alamo today, february 2012

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Tao House - Gateway to Eugene O’Neill’s LegacyBy Jody Morgan

The dramatic views of Mount Diablo enjoyed by Eugene O’Neill and his wife Carlotta are accessible to Tao House visitors free of charge thanks to the perspicacity and perseverance of a few individuals who persuaded Congress to create a unique arrangement between the Eugene O’Neill Foundation and the National Park Service. A memorandum of agreement defines the partnership between the Foundation that saved the property from becoming one more hilltop

housing development and the Park Service that preserves it. Park Service rangers maintain the house and grounds and guide visitors through O’Neill’s secluded haven. Foundation volunteers provide artistic and educational programs that highlight O’Neill’s impact on American theatre.

The only American playwright ever awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, O’Neill used the $40,000 sum the 1936 honor brought with it to purchase a 158-acre Danville ranch in 1937. Carlotta oversaw the design and construction of their retreat blending the couple’s interest in Oriental art and philosophy with Spanish colonial archi-tecture appropriate to the site. A 1941 Life Maga-zine photo shoot provides detailed documentation of the interior décor. (Des-tined for a December issue, the spread was re-placed at the last minute by pages on Pearl Har-bor.) In the study where Eugene wrote A Long Day’s Journey into Night, the play that earned him posthumously his fourth Pulitzer Prize, visitors today listen to a recording of the playwright reading from the script and glimpse his crabbed handwriting, which Carlotta transcribed on a manual typewriter. Words only flowed for O’Neill when he put pen to paper.

Volume XII - Number 2 3000F Danville Blvd. #117,

Alamo, CA 94507Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397

Fax (925) 406-0547

Alisa Corstorphine ~ [email protected]

Sharon Burke ~ [email protected]

The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.

See Tao House continued on page 14

See Theft continued on page 22

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PAIDPermit 263Alamo CA

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LocalPostal Customer

See Teen continued on page 23Car Theft in Alamo Leads to Major Crime SpreeResidents Advised to Keep Cars Locked at All TimesBy Sharon Burke

A Westside Alamo family woke up early one recent morning to find both their cars stolen from their driveway. Although one car has been recovered, the other car is still missing more than two weeks later. When contacted by Alamo Today, homeowner Lynn Cox readily agreed to share their story in hopes that their neighbors can take steps to avoid a brush with crime.

The thieves came early Friday morning, January 13th, between midnight and 6am to the quiet neighborhood off Camille Avenue. “Our cars were parked in the driveway as usual,” Lynn said. As is the custom with many Alamo families, the cars were unlocked. A Lexus sedan and a Lexus SUV were taken. “At 6:42am Friday, the thieves tried to use our credit card (which was left inside the car after a recent gas purchase) to obtain a cash advance at the San Pablo Casino,” Lynn said. “Luckily, VISA denied the charge.”

The Coxes promptly reported the thefts to 911, and a CHP officer arrived to take the report. The officer cautioned them that gangs of thieves have been known to roam affluent neighborhoods, trying car doors, ransacking vehicles for valuables, and looking for bikes or other valuables that are unsecured.

After their contact with VISA, that was all the Coxes heard of their lost prop-erty until they were contacted by the City of Belvedere Police Department a couple days later. Belvedere PD had arrested a San Pablo resident Samantha Miller, 25, who was discovered rummaging through cars in the posh Marin suburb. The arrest-ing officer started checking license plates to see if he could find the car the suspect drove to town. He found the Cox family Lexus sedan abandoned in town with li-cense plates stolen off a car in Richmond, then he found property with Miller’s name inside the Lexus. Police also found items

Teen Esteem By Fran MillerThe statistics are startling: if a teen begins drinking at age 15, he or she has a

40% chance of becoming an alcohol-dependent adult; 67% of these 15 year-old drinkers will experiment with elicit drugs. Alcohol, which can affect the natural development of the teen brain, is implicated in the top three causes of teen fatali-ties. And, one out of two eighth graders have experimented with alcohol.

The pressures faced by today’s youth can often lead to risky behaviors such as underage and binge drinking, drugs, prescription drug abuse and sexual act ivi ty. And, the limited reasoning skills of an under-developed adolescent brain of-ten lead to peril-ous choices, made without regard to consequences. The high-risk behavior of today’s youth requires the watchful eye and guidance of not only parents, but also community members and neighbors. Never

High school students participate in the “Teacup Analogy” exercise with Teen Esteem volunteer presenter Jill Daniels.

Tao House

www.yourmonthlypaper.com - February 2012 ~ Alamo Today

Boulevard ViewBy Alisa Corstorphine, Editor

The other day I noticed a tattered, old, quilted comforter lying on one of our beds. We pulled the old quilt out from the cupboard when the nights be-came cold. I am sure my grandmother spent quite a long time perfectly cutting over 1,600 one-inch small squares, folding and ironing all four edges of each square, and then laying the tiny squares out in designs before hand-stitching them together. I can’t

even imagine the time it took to put something like this together. I once tried the old craft of rug hooking and managed to make a piece about 1’x2’; it took over a year. The quilt has seen better days. The white batting is show-ing through as well as the blue backing layer. As I examined it, I thought maybe I should put it in a box in the closet for “safe storage.” But then I

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thought that Grandma would not want her masterpiece sitting in some box. She created the quilt to be used just like she made braided rugs to be walked on. These handcrafts were probably created during nights listening to the radio, sitting in front of a fire, or socializing with a group of friends. She made them with care and love, and she made them to be seen and used - not stuck in some box in a closet.

I mentioned Grandma’s quilt to one of my sisters, and it started her think-ing about the silver and china that was given to her when she and her husband were married. There were grand plans made by the young couple that included fancy dinner parties that never materialized, and the silver and china have sat in a cupboard for the last 22 years where they were “safe” from being dropped, broken, or chipped. After all that time, one plate recently saw the light of day when it was brought out for a special school project one of her children had. It was the first time the plate had ever had a food item placed upon it. Worries of the dishes being too fancy kept them packed away. But what is too fancy? When is it the right time to use something special? When we pack something away for the “right time,” does it ever get used, or is it just forgotten?

Another of my sisters just recently began bringing out the two sets of “spe-cial” china dishes that she has. She, along with her husband and two young children, will make a dinner together - maybe something as simple as spaghetti and meatballs with salad - and then turn the simple dinner into an occasion by turning on some classical or jazz music and serving the dinner on the china dishes in their dining room. Instead of waiting for a special event to use the dishes, they are making the event special by bringing the dishes out.

Many other treasured items can end up in the same “special” category: special heirloom jewelry, memorable baby clothes, a wedding dress. What do you have tucked away waiting for “the right time” to be used? (If you do decide that now is the right time, take a picture to remember the item in its original condition, then free it from that box or special storage spot and let it be used!)

I know Grandma wouldn’t want her labor of love packed away. Her quilt was created to be used and enjoyed, and we plan to enjoy many more nights made warmer by Grandma’s masterpiece.

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Rowan Branch Seeking MembersRowan Branch auxiliary of Children's Hospital Oakland has been an Alamo-

Danville institution for more than 50 years. Meeting once a month in Alamo and Danville homes, this group of 50 or so women organizes two fundraisers each year to benefit the Hospital. In spring, Rowan Branch puts on the popular Spring Shop-ping Spree at Round Hill Country Club. Sold out every year, the Spree attracts over 250 attendees who shop at selected vendors, enjoy lunch, and listen to a speaker from the Hospital. In the fall, Rowan Branch presents the annual Gala des Enfants, a grand but not stuffy affair that features a live auction, fun games and raffles, and each year raises a significant amount of funding for the Hospital. This year's Gala is set for Saturday night, October 13th, at Diablo Country Club.

Do you have some time on your hands to devote to a good cause and enjoy the company of fellow Alamo/Danville women with a philanthropic bent? Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday night of the month. We would love to meet you and welcome you to Rowan Branch! Please call membership chair Jill Pfeiffer at 837-2507 or email [email protected].

Xenophon Gala FundraiserPlease join Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center for its annual gala fund-

raiser, “An Enchanted Emerald Eve.” This year, the event will be held at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo on Saturday, March 17th at 6pm. The evening includes a sit down dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Tickets are $100 each, and reservations are required. Please visit www.xenophontrc.org for more details and to purchase tickets or call 925.377.0871. Funds raised at this event will be used to support the overall cost of providing riding lessons to children with special needs.

Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center is a nonprofit organization located in a beautiful rural setting in Orinda. The center offers life-changing experiences for children with a wide range of disabilities, and it provides therapeutic horseback riding in a safe and secure environment. The children achieve goals that they never before dreamed possible. By focusing on enhancing their unique abilities, and with a horse as their guide, there is no limit to what these children can achieve.On/Off Ramp Landscaping By Alamo Rotary

Alamo Rotary noted plans for landscaping around the on/off ramps of Highway 680 and Stone Valley Rd. several months ago, but nothing has yet hap-pened. The weather had been unusually dry, and with daytime temperatures pleasant, one would think there would be a beehive of activity planting plants and cleaning up the area. You would have been right, except, when Caltrans is involved in a construction activity in a particular area, all Adopt-A-Highway projects are put on hold until all construction is completed. Since the Rotary project is an Adopt-A-Highway project, it is affected. It appears that construction in the Alamo area is done, but Caltrans looks at the entire project to determine completion. The current project will improve Highway 680 from Rudgear Rd. to Alcosta Blvd. So far the improvements are only completed from Rudgear Rd to Diablo Rd., so there is more work to be done. Rotary has also been told that the laying of asphalt is very temperature sensitive. If the temperatures are too low, the contractor cannot lay asphalt. Since the work is done at night when temperatures are the lowest, this can be a problem. Therefore, the current estimated completion date is sometime in the spring.

During your travels to and from downtown, you may have noticed two green boxes alongside Stone Valley Rd. As a result of the efforts of Peggy Conklin, President, East Bay Blue Star Moms, Supervisor Gayle Uilkema, and the Alamo MAC, PG&E has given us permission to “decorate” the two boxes. Before any decoration can begin we need to submit sketches of proposed decorations. We already have one suggestion from a Monte Vista High School student, but we need more. We are sure that there are lots of very artistically talented individuals living Alamo, and we invite them to send us their suggestions. Please mail them to The Rotary Club of Alamo, PO Box 303, Alamo, CA. 94507. PG&E will then make the final decision as to which ones we will be able to use. Additionally, we regard this as a community project and not only restricted to Rotarians. There will be lots of opportunities for citizens of Alamo to get their hands dirty as well as meet some of their neighbors. If you would like to volunteer, call Diane Barley at 925-984-2072 or Dick Olsen at 925-855-1598.

Also, if you would like to make a contribution to the project, we would be grateful. Just mail it to the address above.

www.yourmonthlypaper.com

- February 2012 ~ Alamo Today

The Exchange Club of San Ramon ValleyThe Exchange Club of San Ramon Valley meets for lunch the second

Wednesday of every month at Faz Restaurant in downtown Danville. The Club’s sign-in and social time begins at 11:30AM. The meeting starts promptly at noon and ends promptly at 1PM. Our one-hour program features guest speakers and a business networking speaker. Guests are welcome. Price is $16 for members and first time guests and $20 for returning guests.

For more information, call Karen Stepper, President, at (925) 275-2312, email [email protected], or visit www.srvexchangeclub.org.San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society

The San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society meets at 10AM the third Tues-day of every month, except August and December, at the Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. There will be a speaker at every meeting. Everyone is welcome.

For information, call Ed at (925) 299-0881, visit www.srvgensoc.org, or email [email protected].

Clipper Cards for Seniors Important information for BART riders! BART transitioned from paper tickets

to Clipper cards earlier this month. The Town of Danville is offering a second special senior “Buzz Session” to demonstrate and explain the new Clipper card system. The Buzz Session will be held Thursday, February 16th from 9am to 11am at the Town Meeting Hall located at 201 Front Street in Danville.

Representatives from BART will provide a brief overview regarding the transition from tickets to Clipper cards. The rest of the presentation will be dedicated to registering seniors and issuing the Clipper cards. Seniors must have a valid government issued I.D. to receive the card. The cost of this Buzz Session is free, however pre-registration is required. To register, call (925) 314-3400. For more information, visit www.danville.ca.gov.

San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club The San Ramon Valley Newcomers Club invites new and long-time resi-

dents to its monthly luncheon on February 16th at Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Dr. in Danville. The meeting will take place from ll:30 to 2 PM, and the cost is $21. The speaker will be Sheila Bali, an author who will speak on her family’s escape from the Hungarian Revolution. Call Grace at (925) 828-8554 for reservations and information.

Alamo-Danville Newcomer’s ClubPlease join us February 14th for our Luncheon at Uncle Yu's Restaurant

in Lafayette. We have an exciting speaker joining us, Deborah Francesconi, a medical esthetician who is a frequent guest on KGO Radio. She will bring us up-to-date on the latest anti-aging, non-surgical skin treatments. Reservations are required. Please contact Marty at 925-838-8113 for more information.

Blackhawk Republican Women Present Cory Emberson and Rick Lindstrom

The Blackhawk Republican Women will present authors Cory Emberson and Rick Lindstrom, authors of Pursuing Liberty: America Through the Eyes of the Newly Free, on Thursday, February 16th at the Blackhawk Country Club which is located at 599 Blackhawk Club Dr. in Danville. A social with hors d’oeuvres will be held at 5:30PM followed by the speakers at 6:15PM. The cost is $25.

Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and never more than one generation from extinction.” Sometimes it takes a different perspective to bring matters into sharp focus - a perspective from those who have experi-enced despotism and tyranny first-hand, escaped it, and lived to tell the tale. Pursuing Liberty is a chronicle of those experiences, reminding us of the value of liberty and the ongoing need to defend it at all costs.

Come hear the authors who have been featured on the Brian Sussman Show on KSFO560. See www.pursuingliberty.com for more info, reviews, and interviews.

Please make reservations or cancellations by noon on Tuesday, February 14th by contacting Mrs. Lyons at 856 Turrini Dr., Danville, 94526, [email protected], or (925) 820-6452. Update on the Future of Health Care

The San Ramon Valley Republican Women Federated invites the public to hear guest speaker John Graham, who will be speaking on “Update on the Future of Health Care,” on February 28th. The meeting will be held at Crow Canyon Country Club located at 711 Silver Lake Drive in Danville. Social gathering be-gins at 11:30am followed by lunch at noon. Cost is $25 (payable at the door). For reservations, call Mary at (925) 837-5465 or e-mail [email protected].

8

Alamo Zoe is Missing

February’s Winner Is Cornelia Timms

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To be eligible send a letter telling us where you found her, along with your name and address, to:

Lost Dog! ~ Alamo Today

Lost Dog!

We have a new dog, but now she has become lost in this paper...Keep your eyes out for Alamo Zoe!

Diablo Singles Dance ClubDiablo Singles Dance Club holds a public dance the last Wednesday of each

month from 7:30pm-10:30pm at the Shadelands Art Center located at 111 N. Wiget Lane in Walnut Creek. There is live music, refreshments, and free parking. The cost is $7 for members and $9 for non-members. For information call 925-837-2851.

New Veterans Building Means New ProgramsWith the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Building opening in the

spring, the Town of Danville has been busy programming new classes to expand the already existing and exciting classes for seniors.

Seniors will have an opportunity to learn more about programs and in-structors by attending the free Senior Recreation Program Expo on Friday, February 24th, from 9am– Noon at the Oak Hill Park Community Center located at 3005 Stone Valley Rd in Danville. Instructors will be available to discuss their programs and answer questions.

Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

[email protected] Alamo Today ~ February 2012 -

Danville Community Band Dinner ConcertFebruary 12th at Diablo Country Club

Everyone is invited to enjoy a sumptuous dinner and to relax as the enchanting sounds of music fill the ballroom at the historic Diablo Country Club. Conductor Robert Calonico leads the 90-member all-volunteer Danville Community Band as they entertain you with a “Musical Potpourri.” The evening begins on Sunday, Feb-ruary 12th at 5pm with registration and drinks at the no host bar (cash only). Dinner will be held at 6pm, followed by the concert.

For reservations (credit card only), please call 925-837-4221. Call early as the event fills quickly due to limited seating. Dinner and concert (inclusive) cost $38 per person. This event is open to all. Bring your Valentine, and enjoy an early celebration.

Free Tax PreparationFree Tax Preparation will be offered by Tax-Aide’s AARP sponsored program

and Earn It, Keep It Save It’s (EKS) United Way sponsored program. The fast, free, confidential tax service, provided by IRS certified tax preparers, is available now.

For information or to make an appointment for the Tax-Aide sites serving the Danville/San Ramon area, please call Danville-Community Presbyterian Church (925) 480-7202 or San Ramon Senior Center (925) 973-3250. For general informa-tion and other site locations, call (925) 726-3199. If you need additional information concerning the EKS program, call 211 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

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Delta Nu Psi Collections for the TroopsOur collections this January at CVS and Lunardi's were fabulous. Thank

you to those that donated “gourmet junk food” for our Troops. We have received special requests from some of the Troops deployed in

Afghanistan for hand and feet warmers as the temperatures are very cold. The warmers are available at retail chain and sporting good stores or online.

We will be collecting at CVS in Alamo on February 3rd and at Lunardi’s in Danville on February 10th. We will be at both stores from 11am to 2pm. For more information, visit our website at www.deltanupsi.org.Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Post 75 of San Ra-mon Valley, meets every second Thursday of the month at the Swain House at Hap Magee Ranch Park, located at 1025 La Gonda Way in Danville. Doors open at 7PM and the meeting begins at 7:30PM.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9th. For more information, contact Post Commander Nathan Greene at (925)

875-1747 or visit www.vfwpost75.org.

Raising Fruits and Vegetables in Small and Challenging Spaces

Get inspired to grow fruits and vegetables, even with limited space, at the Danville Library presentation of the Master Gardener Series, Raising Fruits and Vegetables in Small and Challenging Spaces on Tuesday, February 7th at 7pm at Danville Library, Mt. Diablo Room located at 400 Front Street in Danville.

The presentation will cover container gardening, raised beds, and espalier fruit trees. No regis-tration is required.

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Alamo Women’s ClubWhere Women Come Together to Work Toward a Better Community for All

Save the date for a trip to San Francisco! The Alamo Women’s Club will be touring the Asian Art Museum (www.asianart.org), February 29th. One of the current exhibits is “Maharaja-The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts.” They plan to travel by BART and walk a few blocks to

the museum, have lunch, and BART home. Please call or email, anytime, Marcelle Roise ([email protected] / 925.820.6985) or Carol Weldin ([email protected] 925.937.9515) if you wish to attend.FEBRUARY

1 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

6 - Executive Board Meeting - 4pm

7 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)7 - See Academy Awards Nominated Movie & Munchies Night - TBD8 - Business Meeting - 11:30am

14 - Cards Club - 9-Noon14 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)14 - See Academy Awards Nominated Movie & Munchies Night - TBD15 - Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

15 - Book Club I - 1pm

15 - Book Club II - 2pm

21 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)21 - See Academy Awards Nominated Movie & Munchies Night - TBD22 - Program Meeting - 11:30am, Past Presidents’ Luncheon26 - Academy Awards Potluck Dinner & Voting! - 6pm

28 - Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)MARCH

5-Executive Board Meeting-4pm

6- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)7- Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

13- Cards Club - 9-Noon14- Business Meeting - 11:30am Executive Board Elections20- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)21- Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

21- Book Club I - 1pm

21- Book Club II - 2pm

27-Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)28-Program Meeting-11:30am -TBA

APRIL3- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)4- Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

9-Executive Board Meeting -4pm

10- Cards Club - 9-Noon10- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)11-Business Meeting-11:30am, Old/New Philanthropy vote, Member of the Year nomination taken17- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)18- Mah Jongg - 10:30-12:30pm

18- Book Club I - 1pm

18- Book Club II - 2pm

24- Let’s Walk! - 4-5pm, meet @ Clubhouse (rain cancels)25-Program Meeting-11:30am, STAND! “Spa Day”Want to become a member? Be our guest at one of our events to learn about

our Club’s philanthropies and mingle with the members. If you’ve been thinking about joining, our luncheons are the perfect occasion to join us at the Clubhouse located at 1401 Danville Blvd in Alamo. Please respond to Nancy Dommes, Membership Chair, by calling 831-0111 or emailing [email protected], and bring a friend, too!

For questions, please contact President, Nancy Combs at [email protected].

A BIG welcome to our new members (L to R) Mary Jane Jossey, Christine Livitski, Vickie Coker and Nancy McMurry.

Claudia Waldron holding a “Thank you” card from Youth Homes for gift cards the kids received from the Alamo Women’s Club.

California Writers ClubElizabeth Rosner, local novelist and poet, will present “Thinking Like

a Poet Can Improve Your Writing” at the next luncheon meeting of the Mt. Diablo Branch of the California Writers Club (CWC) on Saturday, February 11th at Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant, located at 611 Gregory Lane in Pleasant Hill.

Elizabeth will discuss the overlap between poetry and fiction, how writ-ing poetry can define a writer’s voice and material, and what qualities of poetry can strengthen prose.

Ms. Rosner is the author of two novels, The Speed of Light and Blue Nude. Her poetry and fiction have been widely published in literary journals, and she teaches creative writing at the college level.

Check-in begins at 11:30am, with a buffet luncheon following a short meeting. The cost is $20 for CWC members, $25 for guests.

Reservations are required, and they must be received no later than noon on Wednesday, February 8th. Contact Jean at [email protected] or call 925-934-5677. Expect confirmation only if you e-mail your reservation.

The California Writers Club Mt. Diablo Branch web address is http://cwcmtdiablowriters.wordpress.com/.

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Summer Planning at a DiscountHave you ever wanted to meet and greet the instructors or camp staff

before sending your children off for the summer? Well now’s your chance! Get a sneak peek of what the Town of Danville has in store for Spring and Summer 2012 on Saturday, February 4th from 11AM to 2PM at the Danville Community Center located at 420 Front Street in Danville.

Meet summer day camp and aquatics staff, plus a variety of specialty class instructors, and get all of your questions answered in person. Individuals who come to the expo will have an opportunity to register early for all of their favorite programs and will receive 10% off of program fees listed in the Spring Activity Guide and Summer Camps Brochure. Please note that not all programs or classes may be included. This is a free event, and pre-registration is not required.

Visit www.danville.ca.gov or call (925) 314-3400 for more information.

[email protected] Danville Area Tip of the MonthFind Your PeopleBy Dina Colman, Four Quadrant Living (A Danville Area Sustainable Business)

It’s 9pm on a Tuesday night, and I’m at a veterinary hospital to meet a dog that I might adopt. This particu-lar vet is open until midnight, and they work a lot with rescue organizations. The rescue group that I contacted told me that I could meet the dog before she got spayed if I wanted to meet that evening. Nine o’clock at night seemed a little late to me, but the dog had just been listed on Petfinder.com, and I found myself saying “yes.”

As I sat and watched these rescue people do their work, I thought to myself, “I get it.” I get why they are here working so hard to save these lives. I understand that it doesn't matter that it's 9pm; the lives need to be saved. I’m an animal person. I have always had a soft spot for cats and dogs. When I mar-ried my husband, the one condition that I imposed was that I would always have a four legged companion in my life (to date, it’s been cats). I have worked at, and volunteered with, a couple of animal rescue organizations in my life. As I waited to meet my future pup (yes, it was an instant love connection), I thought that some might look at these people and not really get it. Why would someone willingly be out so late to help a dog or cat they didn’t even know? As I sat there, I had this feeling come over me that these are “my people.” I ended up being there until 11pm, volunteering to photograph the just rescued shelter animals so they could be posted on Petfinder for faster adoption.

Who are “your people”—the people who understand your passion, beliefs, and/or values without you even having to say a word? These are the people that you can completely relate to. You can be authentic around them and not have to pretend to be someone else or downplay who you are. Is it your fellow cyclists? Knitting group? Breast cancer survivors? Church members? Mom’s group? Foodies?

I started running five years ago because I wanted to run a marathon. Running has changed my life. Sure, it keeps me in shape and calms my stress, but it has provided me with a whole new social network. My husband took up running not too long after I started. We joke that if we had known how many friends we’d make from running, we would have taken it up a lot sooner. Since I started running, I have run six marathons. Sometimes I feel like my family doesn't really understand all that I get from running. My perception is that they think I'm obsessive about it and worry that I am harming my body. I often feel like when they are visiting me or I am visiting them, I have to sneak in my runs. I feel like I can’t just be me about it. I have to downplay all that running is and does for me. But my running people get it. I don’t have to explain why I love running. They just know.

Now that I'm a new dog owner, I’m seeing that I have a new “people.” There is a whole subculture when you own a dog that I previously had no idea existed. I’ve had my dog for just a week now, and I’ve already met five dog-owning neighbors I had never met before. I’ve also talked the ears off of my dog-owning friends, asking for advice and sharing the craziness of the first week with my new pup. They get it.

My husband says it’s the same for cyclists. He had his bike parked at a coffee shop, and a fellow cyclist asked him how he liked his style of pedals. They then ended up having a conversation about rides, races, and injuries. I can imagine it’s also true for foodies, as I've seen it with my friend Doug. He loves to talk food. Whereas I might say, “We had a delicious salmon dinner last night,” Doug would give me a five minute explanation about how the meal was prepared (down to the ingredient list and steps). I always wonder if Doug thinks I'm actually retaining any of this. I’m guessing another foodie would be able to follow along and replicate the meal later on.

The point is, spending time with your people—people who get who you are at some fundamental level—allows you to be authentic. You don’t have to feel like you have to hide a part of yourself or downplay something you are passionate about. It’s okay if you talk for 30 minutes about the woes of your running feet or stories of how your dog is the cutest and smartest dog ever. They get it. Spending time with your people is good for your health.

Are you earth-conscience? Are we your people? If so, join a lively mixture of ‘green people’ from Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, and beyond. Join us for Green Drinks at Tower Grill on Tuesday, February 28th 5-7pm. Come along and you’ll be made welcome. For more information, visit www.sustainabledanville.com.

Alamo Today ~ February 2012 -

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Alamo District P-2, Zone BDeputy's Activities and Report for December, 2011

Deputy Michael CarsonDeputy Carson Completed:

The annual Alamo Tree Lighting event on December 4• 2 Citations • 12 Reports • 3 Field Interview Cards

Deputy Carson responded to or conducted• 14 Alarm Calls • 3 Security Checks • 7 Patrol Requests• 2 Suspicious Vehicles • 4 Suspicious Subjects • 3 Found Property • 2 Civil Issues • 22 Service to Citizens • 1 Lost Property• 1 Disturbance • 1 Vandalism

Reported Incidents:Danville Boulevard at La SerenaDeputy Carson conducted a suspicious subject stop on two male subjects car-

rying a TV. One of them was given the TV from a friend at a nearby residence. During the contact, one subject gave Deputy Carson consent to search his back-pack. While searching the backpack, Deputy Carson located drug paraphernalia. Deputy Carson arrested the suspect and released him with a signed notice to ap-pear. During the contact, Deputy Carson received information of possible drug sales at the nearby location. Since then, Deputy Carson has been provided with several DVD’s of possible drug activity at the location, which Deputy Carson has forwarded to the Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division for further investigation.

Adrienne DriveDeputy Carson received a call of a suspicious vehicle driving through the

neighborhood; the vehicle also stopped in a driveway. The vehicle rapidly left the area after the homeowner came out to confront the two subjects in the vehicle. The vehicle was described as an older, white Lincoln Town Car.

Lunada LaneDeputy Carson responded to a call of a possible burglar inside a residence.

The homeowner was gone on business in a nearby city. The homeowner called her nanny and told the nanny to lock the doors as the homeowner’s purse had just been stolen. The nanny heard a door open and footsteps inside the kitchen area of the house. The nanny yelled out and then looked out a window towards the street. The nanny said she saw an unknown subject walking from the area of the house towards a large white vehicle, possible a Lincoln Town Car. The vehicle description resembled that of the Adrienne Drive incident.

Alamo PlazaDeputy Carson took a report of vandalism to a cement picnic table. There

were no known suspects or witnesses to this incident.Sugarloaf TerraceDeputies took a report of a residential burglary. Victim left her purse in her

unlocked vehicle, which was parked in the unsecured garage.


Rancho Romero Elementary School By Skye Larsh, Principal

When we brainstorm examples of professional devel-opment, what often makes it to the top of the list are things like conferences, workshops, symposiums, and institutes. But, one aspect that doesn’t get much attention, and yet is one of the most valuable tools that a school or district can use to develop skill and collaboration, is a structured format of educators observing one another within the classroom or other authentic environment. Versions of

this might be called Instructional Rounds, Peer Observations, or Walk-throughs.The idea of watching someone else model an effective way of teaching is not a

new concept, but when the goal is changed from either repeating the exact behavior or evaluating to comparing one’s own instructional practices with the person being observed there can be powerful results. The chief benefit of this approach resides within the discussion that takes place as well as the subsequent self-reflection.

Elementary principals within the district have had an opportunity to participate in this type of professional development several times this year, visiting a different school each month. Inquiry into a specific program, topic, instructional strategy, or content area guides the group, allowing for a focused and relevant discussion. Each visit has concluded with new understandings, ideas, and questions. Rancho Romero will host the district’s elementary principals in May.

Several staff members have also seized the opportunity to visit classrooms in the district. One recent visit included the Academic Talent Program observing differ-ent methods for implementing differentiated instruction. At the end of this month the entire kindergarten team will observe a Transitional Kindergarten classroom to compare curriculum and instruction with traditional kindergarten. Additional plans are underway in the area of writing both at the site and outside the district.

Observing instruction ends with identifying instructional practices, methods, or strategies that we’ll continue to use because we saw others employing them effectively, practices we currently use and now we want to reexamine, or practices we don’t currently use but will try. No matter the three outcomes, this practice stimulates excitement and energy. It allows us to interact with colleagues in a non-evaluative way and inspires us to grow.

Upcoming Meetings and EventsAIA - Alamo Improvement Association - February 9th , 7pm - Creekside Community Church -1350 Danville Blvd.Alamo MAC (Municipal Advisory Committee) - First and third Tuesdays 6pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee Park Hap Magee Ranch Joint Planning and Operations Committee - March 24th - 5pm - The Cottage at Hap Magee ParkP2B - Police Services Advisory Committee - February 7th , 5pm - Meets at Valley Station located at 150 Alamo PlazaP5 - Round Hill Police Services Advisory Committee - Second Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm - Meets at Round Hill Country Club - Lower Level Meeting Room CERT classes - Community Emergency Response Team - Visit www.firedepartment.org/community_outreach/cert/upcoming_classes.asp

Alamo Elementary SchoolWhat’s Up Doc?By Stan Hitomi, Principal

If someone were to ask you what will happen when you go to see a doctor, part of your answer is very pre-dictable. You can be certain that someone in the office will start by measuring your height and weight, and taking your temperature and/or blood pressure. This has been happening for as long as I can remember. The information that is collected is the same whenever and

wherever you go to see a doctor. But why ?We call this type of information General Outcome Measures or GOMs. GOMs

can be found in nearly every field. The US Department of Labor measures the Consumer Price Index, Wall Street measures the Dow-Jones Industrial Average, and McDonald’s measures how many hamburgers they sell. GOMs are common measures that are used and understood throughout a given field. They are universal measures that are ongoing and provide information for organizations and profes-sionals to modify their work based upon their analysis of the GOMs.

So what about our schools? What are our GOMs? What do schools and teachers use to monitor their students, and are these measures common to allow for comparison with local, state, and national norms? The reality of schools is that we use a variety of measures, but seldom are they common across grades, schools, districts, or states. At Alamo School we are piloting a technology-based solution for measuring and monitoring student progress in learning. The pro-gram is called AIMSweb, and it allows teachers to monitor learning progress on a frequent and continuous basis using common assessments. Teachers, students, and parents receive results through a web-based data management and reporting system that allows teachers to make instructional changes for students based upon their individual results.

In the case of medicine, for many patients there may be no need for additional medical treatment if the GOMs are normal and the patient has no other complaints. But if the weight is a little high or blood pressure is a little low, the doctor will seek basic solutions before anything radical (like surgery) is prescribed. AIMSweb is allowing Alamo School teachers to apply a similar process. First, all students are screened twice a year. Those identified with concerns are provided with additional support and strategically monitored (monthly) for the effectiveness of instructional changes. Those who need more intensive service are progress monitored (weekly). Once students have reached their goal, such as reading at grade-level, they may be exited from the intensive service (such as a reading specialist), but they will continue to be monitored.

As in the case of medicine, our teachers are not relying on AIMSweb as the sole source of measuring the learning progress of students. But, the system does provide a quantitative and non-biased perspective that can be used along with other more traditional measures in the classroom. At Alamo School we hang on dearly to many long-time traditions such as Family Reading Nights and the Hoedown. However, we are grateful and eager to embrace anything new that will help to better support our students and their families.Important Dates

• February 6-16 – Online Auction, Alamo School Ed Fund• February 17-20 – No School – School Recess and President’s Day

Holiday• March 2 – Read Across America• March 3 – Auction Gala, Alamo School Ed Fund

St. Isidore School students love to read. As a matter of fact, they recently read for 2,075,131 minutes as part of the Scholastic “Read for the World Record” inter-national reading contest. They surpassed their school goal of 1,500,000 minutes, up from the previous year of 822,459 minutes. Competing for the top spot with 9,000 other schools from around the world, kids in grades kindergarten through eighth logged their daily reading minutes. Librarian Lee Lewis was very proud of the St. Isidore students for giving the effort an extra push on the last day to pass the two million mark. She said, “We may have come in third, but it is the sweetest, most incredible achievement by these kids, and we are all very proud.”

Minutes read by top readers per grade are: Kindergarten-Austin Doyle (3,690 minutes), 1st grade-Sonja Durr (6,795), 2nd grade-Analisa Vavosos (9,740), 3rd grade and top winner Emmy Dunn(21,645), 4th grade-Nicholaus Waizenegger (11,345), 5th grade-Amanda Stark (16,198), 6th grade-Amelia Clute (14,350), 7th grade-Lauren Barry (17,037), 8th grade-Tanya Yakoubovsky (11,812).

As always, Harry Potter is a favorite by all readers, and Nicholaus Waizeneg-ger said that he could have read more minutes if there were more Harry Potter books - a sentiment shared by many. Analisa Vavoso happily gave up TV time because she says she “LOVES to read.” Her favorite books were the Puppy Palace series because Lizzy reminds her of her dog Duke. “He always gets in trouble,” says Analisa.

Readers Nicholas Waizenegger, Sonja Durr, Amanda Stark, Austin Doyle, Amelia Clute, Emmy Dunn, Lauren Barry, Analisa Vavoso, and Tanya Yakoubovsky.

Read for the World Record

[email protected] Valley Middle School By Shaun K. McElroy, PrincipalPrimary constituents chime in about their learning experiences

From deep inside the hallowed halls of instruction, I managed to wrangle several students into the principal's office for a frank talk on their school experience. I knew that I was going to have to be crafty to get “full disclosure” from these learners. I created questions that I thought would draw out answers that staff will find useful.

Question #1 - If you could restructure your school day, what would it look like? (Don't get crazy you still have to have your required subjects)

• Have PE later in the day on cold mornings.• Start school later - “Doesn’t the research say that our brains work better later in the day?”•“Why do 8th graders have lunch so late in the day - we’re starving!”

• “My cousin attends a school with a block schedule where the classes are longer and students have classes every other day. I think I'd like that.”Question #2 - My favorite way to learn is by_____ or, if you were the teacher, how would you run the class? Learning by doing was the unanimous vote for the delivery of instruction. Students prefer activity based lessons that allow them to physically perform

a task to learn. A couple of students mentioned that they liked when the teacher let students demonstrate or teach a lesson to the class.Almost every student said Physical Education was their favorite class

because they were able to move around, play games, and hang out with friends. This is strong praise considering that all students completed a dance unit in December. Typically you would find many objections from students having to perform live dances in front of their peers, not to mention the whole locker room scene. Kudos to our PE staff, Ron Hirschman, Linda Draper, Bev Ladouceur, and Monique Metzcus for making this potentially awkward situation work well. What the students don’t know is that there is a strong connection to physical activity and academic performance.

Believe it or not, only one student said lunch was their favorite class.Question #3 ____ is the most exciting part of my school day.The overwhelming favorite class was science. Science stood out

because students felt that had the best of all worlds - leaning by doing in regular laboratory experiments (again movement), interesting subject matter, and the incorporation of all academic skill sets, reading, writing, problem solving, history, and math. What they don’t know is that we have an award winning science department. Jeff, Hager, Teresa Butler-Doran, Laura Finco, and Jenni Maybury received the 2009 Association for California School Administrators - Teacher of the Year Award.

Question #4 - What does 21st century learning mean to you? Students described using iPads, laptops, desktops, and their own per-

sonal electronic devices as tools in the classroom. Students performed research, created online content (Wiki's, Glogs), used Google Earth for plate tectonics lessons, made flash cards, took photographs, and wrote essays. Computers are powerful tools that enhance the learning experi-ence and put the millions of bits of information at students’ fingertips.

Question #5 - What is your SPARK? This is a trick question, sort of. The real question is what is your passion in life? What brings you the greatest joy?

I phrased the question like this:“I have a limousine parked in front of the school fueled and ready

to take you to the activity/place of your choice. Where would you go? What would you do?”

The universal response was a sporting activity, mostly soccer, horse-back riding, and swimming.

I recommend that your try this one on your own children or children your encounter. Sometimes the response will surprise you.

The point of this exercise is to understand what works in classrooms from the students' perspective. I'll share this content with staff so that we can continue the shape instruction that engages all learners. The bonus of this activity is that the interviews provide me an additional opportunity to get to know students. George Papageorge Entertains and Informs at Annual “Dad’s Night Out”

Marriage and Family therapist George Papageorge provided Stone Valley Dads with two hours of information, interaction, and tools for creating and maintaining healthy relationships. To learn more about George’s presentation, visit www.georgepapageorge.com. To view the “Eight Parenting Tips for Dad’s,” visit www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201012/parenting-8-tips-dads.


San Ramon Valley High School By Joseph A. Ianora, Principal

Welcome back from the winter break and into a New Year! As we move into the second semester, I would like to encourage you to continue being or become involved in our school community and your student’s education. To this end, I would like to highlight for you the following:

1. Our fall sports teams were wonderfully suc-cessful with many team and individual gaining

awards for SRVHS. San Ramon Valley High School is pleased to announce that fifteen athletic teams have received recognition as North Coast Section Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Teams. Members of the following teams received certificates for compiling a minimum team grade point aver-age of 3.00 during the first quarter.

• Girls’ Varsity Cross Country ~ 3.40 • JV Football ~ 3.19• Boys’ Varsity Cross Country ~ 3.27 • Frosh Football ~ 3.41• Varsity Football ~ 3.29 • Girls’ Varsity Golf ~ 3.14• Girls’ Varsity Tennis ~ 3.29 • Girls’ JV Tennis ~ 3.32• Girls’ Varsity Volleyball ~ 3.49 • Girls’ JV Volleyball ~ 3.44• Girls’ Frosh Volleyball ~ 3.63 • Girls’ JV Water Polo ~ 3.48• Girls’ Varsity Water Polo ~ 3.35 • Boys’ JV Water Polo ~ 3.11• Boys’ Varsity Water Polo ~ 3.16 2. Our instrumental, vocal, theater, and dance programs continue to take

our breath away with their incredible talent.3. We are adding 16 courses to the master schedule for second semester.4. Our spring FUNraiser is being held March 31st; please save the date. 5. All cars are subject to ticketing at SRVHS; please make sure to remind

your student that they must park in a numbered stall (if they have a parking permit) or off campus.

6. Semester grading problems – The grading process may be confusing and lead to feelings of frustration and misunderstanding. When dealing with grading questions, it is important to keep in mind:

a. You can empower your student to be his/her own advocate. This is a valuable life skill and a powerful tool to develop in our young adults. Contact the teacher to alert her/him of the issue. However, first encourage your student to resolve the issue directly with the teacher. Coach your student.

b. Remember that there are always two sides to every story. Listen to both your student’s concerns and the concerns of the teacher, counselor, or administrator.

Thank you for all you do to make San Ramon Valley High School a great place!

Monte Vista High SchoolBy Janet Terranova, Principal

With the completion of finals week, the first semester is officially over. It is always amazing to observe our students during finals week. They take the finals process very seriously and are incredibly focused on the task at hand. Second semester starts with the addition of several new classes to support student learning. Three classes will support students as they develop strategies to

become better students. Two Academic Enrichment classes will focus on developing study skills, testing taking skills, and organization while an additional English class will help students develop as writers. As a school we are always searching for strategies to help all students develop skills for the 21st century.

While second semester will continue with strong academic programs, the process of selecting classes for the next school year, and the usual array of student activities, Monte Vista will be preparing for our WASC visit. WASC is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is the organization that accredits public and private schools in our region. WASC is a self study process. It is an opportunity to examine the strengths and challenges of the school from the mission statement to instruction, curriculum, and assessment to ensure the delivery of quality educational programs for our students.

Our last accreditation took place in 2006, and since that time we have continued that self study process. This year we wrote our new WASC report, which can be found on the website on February 1. This document includes our Action Plan which will guide Monte Vista for the next sev-eral years. Essentially the WASC process gives schools the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the educational process as their school. Our WASC Visiting Team will be on our campus March 4-7.

In March we will begin the process of choosing classes for the 2012-2013 school year. If you have a new or continuing student, please check our website for important parent/student informational nights.

If you would like more information about Monte Vista, please check our website at www.mvhigh.org.

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Tri-Valley Expanding Your Horizons A Science and Math Career Conferencefor 6th–9th Grade Girls

Tri-Valley Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is an annual conference specially designed for 6th through 9th grade girls to encourage them to consider education and career options in science and mathematics. The conference will be held Saturday, February 25th from 8:30am-3pm.

Girls will attend two 90-minute workshops that provide hands-on science or math-related activities and enable them to interact with professionals and science enthusiasts. In addition to their workshop selections, the girls will also visit numerous career displays and are able to interact with professionals from industry, government, academia, and public service, discussing career and education choices in a friendly and relaxed environment.

The conference will be held at Diablo Valley College, San Ramon Campus located at 1690 Watermill Rd in San Ramon.

For online registration or more information, visit http://tveyh.org/.



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Project ManagementBy Evan Corstorphine, Portable CIO

2012 has begun with a roar, and we’re as busy as ever. I’m grateful that we continue to acquire new custom-ers in our primary vertical market, which is healthcare IT services. We’ve worked very hard to develop the expertise to support the medical arena, and it’s great to see the market respond. One of the particular ways we have differentiated ourselves is in the way we approach these implementations and organize the work. It’s all

about consistency and good project management. We’re surrounded by the fruits of project management. It’s what builds our

bridges, roads, houses – everything of importance our society relies upon. It’s what ensures the right things happen at the right time, by the right people and in the right place. It requires organization, documentation, great communication, and a structured and methodical approach. As a consumer, you should demand effective project management.

Every entity, whether it’s a medical office, a business office, or a home en-vironment, has its own set of complexities. The most frequent mistake I see consultants make when approaching these challenges is to get too close and lose the proper perspective. It can be easy to get wrapped up in interesting little technical eccentricities. However, when someone requests service from Portable CIO, they’re not just asking for a ‘guy to turn a screwdriver.’ What people want is for someone to come look at the whole picture, weigh the options from the business or homeowner’s perspective, and advise them according to industry best-practices. In other words, what people want is a knowledgeable consultant, not just a technician. This is never as apparent as when we have the privilege of helping a company with a large project. And, it’s a key reason why firms should think twice about using “one man shops,” or individual consultants, instead of companies like ours who have teams with decades of expertise. One-man shops simply do not have the depth to address the many levels and types of support tasks necessary to keep your operation healthy. They’re frequently overwhelmed, and they usually flame-out because they get caught in the churn of the urgent.

A good project methodology is flexible enough to be used on simple projects, but its resilient enough to manage the most complex. Portable CIO follows an eight step planning process: Concept, Charter, Plan, Design, Build, Test, Implement, and Maintain. Sometimes these steps are combined or abbreviated depending on the situation, but the basic structure persists. It isn’t an accident that fully half of the process is spent planning and organizing what tasks are to be done, before anything is purchased, assembled, or coded. We believe and practice the mantras “Go slow to go fast,” and “Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards.” Oh, there’s also, “Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should!” but that’s another article!

I think the “Charter” phase is the most important part of the project, and it is often overlooked. In the charter phase, we coordinate with the key decision maker of a project; the project sponsor. We ensure they’re onboard with the effort and all that is involved. Projects require consistent customer involvement, both financially and politically. If you try to do a big project without their active involvement, you’ll get to the end, and they won’t be happy because their expectations were allowed to go astray. It’s a challenge to keep people engaged, and projects die because of benign neglect. Without consistent, informed support, a project is doomed.

The next time you’re spending your time and money on anything technical for your office or home, ask yourself these questions. 1) Have I clearly articulated what I am trying to accomplish to the consultant? 2) Have I been asked to prioritize my needs? (ie, everything cannot be a top priority) 3) Is there a clearly communicated plan for addressing my needs? 4) Have the costs been clearly outlined? 5) Has a repair vs. replace decision been discussed? 6) If the project scope changes, is there a process by which you will be informed of any subsequent changes in cost? If you cannot answer yes to these questions, maybe it’s time to slow things down and get another opinion.

Are you planning a new business? Moving your office? Building a new home or planning a complete remodel? If so, a consultation with Portable CIO would be a great way to ensure the right things happen at the right time, and your project goes as smoothly as possible. Give us a call at 925-552-7953, or email [email protected]. Advertorial

Mustang Strikers – D3 won the U13 D2 Silver Championship, beating San Ramon 3-0 in the final game. Pictured from left to right: Top Row: Casey Pearce, Danielle Breyton, Maddie Connell; Middle Row: Coach Kenny, Sarah Mondloch, Heather Scheibley, Frankie Ruiz, Alyssa Rutchena, Maddie Mooney, Mikaela Wong, Sarah Klass, and Coach Heidi; Bottom Row: Grace Brown, Sarah Mazzetti, Riley Purcell, Bella Depolo, Katherine Winn, and Madi Reder

Local Families Needed For Exchange StudentsASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE) is seeking

local host families for international high school boys and girls. The students are 15 to 18 years of age, and are coming to this area for the upcoming high school year or semester. These personable and academi-cally selected exchange students are conversant in English, bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family.

For more information call 800-733-2773.


Cinema Classics By Peggy HornA Letter to Three Wives

If Hollywood could be said to have a royal family, I should think that Joseph L. Manckiewicz and his brother, Herman J. Manckiewicz would be members. Among Joseph’s credits is the movie All About Eve, which he directed and for which he wrote the screenplay. With Orson Welles, Herman co-wrote Citizen Kane, which some critics regard as one of the finest films ever made. Given his stature as a director

and screenwriter, Joseph continues the precedent in the movie A Letter to Three Wives, which garnered him two Academy Awards. This movie was released in 1949, four years after the end of WWII, and stars Jeanne Crain as Deborah, Ann Sothern as Rita, and Linda Darnell as Lora Mae. These three ladies are all married and live in close association with each other in the same small town. Their lives and marriages are thrown briefly into tumult when a mutual female friend writes the three wives a single letter, read by them simultaneously, in which the friend claims to have run away with one of their husbands – but refrains from revealing just which husband it was! For the duration of an entire day, circumstances prevent each wife from verifying whose husband is missing (alas, no cell phones), and each lady has her own reasons to suspect that it might be her husband that has flown.

This movie, like so many others from this era, depicts aspects of elegance that are very appealing at least on film. For instance, at a dinner party in her own home, Rita and her female guests are wearing evening gowns, and her husband and the gentlemen guests are wearing tuxedos – although their manner of dress is attacked by one of the husbands.

A very contemporary issue is raised in the film when Rita, who wants to increase the family revenues, asks her husband why he doesn’t want to give up his job as high school English teacher to make more money. George asks her to consider if people like him don’t teach the kids – who will teach them about the glories of the human spirit past and present?

Finally, the ending is very clear to some viewers (like me) but apparently others have been confused about how the movie actually concludes. See what you think when you watch this fine movie, available inexpensively online or at select DVD rental establishments.

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Alamo resident and Los Cerros 8th grader Kelly VanderWerf is shown jumping her horse TJO Imperial Storm (Buddy). Kelly has owned, cared for, and ridden Buddy for four years in their backyard ranch in Alamo and in competitions and training events with 4H, CSHA, Pony Club, and at local horse shows. This past year was a very successful one for the pair, they won the 2011 Contra Costa County 4H Jr. All-Around Horse Achievement Award and the 2011 CSHA (CA State Horsemen Association) English Flat 13&U Championship. Kelly rode Buddy to win the Junior Championship at the American Competitive Trail Horse Association’s World Record Ride for the Mustangs held in Briones, CA last fall. They were also the 2011 CSHA State Reserve Champion in Combined Horse Mastership where they were tested on English Flat Equitation, Jumping, Western Equitation, Western stock riding, grooming and a two hour written exam on horse knowledge. Kelly’s scores totaled to just five points shy of the winner’s. Kelly and Buddy have a special goal this year. Kelly is trying to save and work hard enough in preparing her horse so the pair can attend the World Championship Buckskin Horseshow in Tulsa OK in July. For more information about CSHA visit www.californiastatehorsemen.com. Photo by Judi Materne.


Park It By Paul Matthew Peterson, Specialty Sales Classics

First, let me introduce myself. I am, by definition, a genuine dyed-in the-wool car nut. I have ‘the disease’…..What started as a positive activity after school in the early

70’s working in my Uncle Butch’s garage in Minnesota, has since taken me all over the country, put hundreds of classics in my driveway over the years, and landed me with a DREAM JOB for a car guy: I sell collector cars for a living….in California.

Specialty Sales Classics is the largest consignment dealer of collector cars in California and 4th in the nation. They’ve been at this since 1978 and have seen a lot of trends come and go over the years. I’m one of the lucky people they’ve hired to locate, consign, and sell collector cars. I walk into a sea of classics every morning. With numerous showrooms in the SF Bay Area and over 250 vehicles in inventory, it’s seriously ‘car-guy heaven’ around here.

Classic cars have always been a fabulous hobby and harmless enjoyment for the entire family. Maybe having a classic car could be a restoration project for dad and the kid or a cool Sunday cruiser the whole family can ride in to the park. These wonderful old cars still fill that role, and they create new family memories in the process.

Collector cars have also historically been a good investment if, like any invest-ment, one does his or her homework before deploying any cash. Over the years the stock market has seen its fair share of victims, and real estate, once the best place to park your investment capital, has also become riskier than ever. I’m noticing a trend towards tangible assets and investments, with classic cars falling into that category.

We’ve seen a lot more clients coming into our showrooms recently looking for collector cars whose motivation is investment rather than an emotional tie to a certain car. Instead of looking for the car they drove to high school, the one like dad used to have or the Camaro they got married in, they are seeking a car solely on its investment potential. “Show me all the big block convertibles you have, I was told they are good investments,” is heard as often these days as, “I’ve always wanted one of these.”

A collector car sale has usually been driven by passion, emotion, desire, nos-talgia, and lots of other factors that a wise buyer tries to avoid when making any purchase. In the past few years, however, these cars are being bought with no more emotion involved than buying 1000 shares of Apple. And they’re purchased for the same reasons...to have a safe, profitable place to park one’s money.

Like the entire economy, collector car prices have dipped in recent years. If a car was purchased within the past five years, you may have to keep it a while longer to see your investment ‘pan out.’ NOW is the time to find that dream car or dream investment in the classic car world. Prices and the market are going back up, and there are many, many great buys to be had right now. Always buy quality over price.

My humble advice: If you’ve been waiting to ‘pull the trigger’ on a classic car investment, don’t wait any longer. Next year you’ll be paying more for the same cars.

Find the type and make of classic you want, and then buy the best example of that particular car you can find. Don’t be afraid to pay more for a top quality car; restoration costs are NOT down currently, but restored car prices are. Buy one you can enjoy TODAY instead of trailering it from restoration shop to restoration shop for the next three years.

We have a beautiful 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air in our Benicia showroom that is a perfect example of a great car to invest your capital in because it has a top quality restoration already completed. If you already owned a nice, completely original ’54 Chevy, and had this level of work done to it, you’d be spending $15k more than our asking price, just for the restoration….not counting the cost of a nice car to start with.

You can buy these wonderful classics right now for 60 cents on the dollar. Pick one out, do your research, and fill your garage with a tangible investment….a classic car. You’ll thank me in 10 years….and possibly every time you take the car out for some exercise. Check out our entire inventory at www.SpecialtySales.com, and if you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected], or call 800-600-2262. Advertorial

Museum of the San Ramon ValleyWild Weird and Wonderful Exhibit Now Open

What possesses us to accumulate objects? Is it because of a per-sonal connection? Is it because of the objects' particular beauty? Or is it because of a more deep seated need to collect? Come and explore the history of early collections and the beginnings of museums while investigating our very own Curiosity Cabinet. Our museum will exhibit a distinctive and eclectic variety of collections from our own San Ra-mon Valley hunters and gatherers. Perhaps these objects will give you flight to the imagination, wings to the mind, and gaiety to the spirit. How Wild, Weird and Wonderful!Whistle Stop Talk

On Saturday, February 25th at 2pm at the Danville Town Hall lo-cated at 201 Front Street in Danville Marjorie Schwarzer will be dis-cussing “Americans and Their Krazy Kollections.” Ms. Schwarzer is an acclaimed writer, educator, and lecturer. From 1996-2011, she was professor and chair of the Department of Museum Studies at John F. Kennedy University. She has authored many books and articles about issues impacting museums. Her book, Riches, Rivals and Radicals: 100 Years of the Museum in America, was published in 2006 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Museums. The book was the basis for an award winning Public Television show of the same title. The program can be viewed at the Museum of San Ramon Valley in conjunction with our current exhibit.Special Presentations at the Museum:

• Saturday, March 3rd, 10am, Marcia Harmon from Cottage Jewel will feature “Three Generations of Buttons.” A friend has a large collection from her own mother and grandmother. Marcia has a wonderful, eclectic shop of eye candy that is a draw for many who collect.

• Saturday, March 24th, 10am, Jungle James from Animal Adventures will share his large butterfly collection from all over the world. He will show how to mount and explain how to preserve the butterflies while telling entertaining stories about his adventures. Bring your child or grandchild and yourself for a morning of lepidoptery.

• Saturday, April 7th, 10am, Gemstone carving and polishing will be featured along with a display of beautiful gems and handmade jewelry. Dick Friesen will share his knowledge of gem collecting along with the tools and equipment that he uses in his hobby. Join us for what will surely be a polished and brilliant talk.

Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. The museum is free to members, and there is a modest fee for non-members. Donations are always welcome. For more information visit www.museumsrv.org or call 925-837-3750. The museum is located at the corner of Railroad and Prospect Avenues in downtown Danville.

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment


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The Eugene O'Neill Foundation Executive Board left to right: Jack DeRieux, Dan Cawthon, Trudy McMahon, Carolyn Schaffer (hidden), Gary DeAtley, Sue Fritzke (NPS), Tom Leatherman (NPS), Susan Jackson, Kari Doolittle (administration). Absent: Gary Schaub.

Permission to sit at the desk where O’Neill wrote his final and, most scholars agree, most significant work heightens the powerful experience of entering Eugene’s study for Student Days participants. Since the program’s 1991 inception, 2,000 students from 30 area high schools and home schools have taken the opportunity to spend a day at Tao House under the tutelage of professional artists. Four separate days are devoted to distinct disciplines: art, drama, photography, and writing. During the lunch break students are treated to live performances of scenes from O’Neill’s plays. Generous do-nors keep Student Days free of charge. The application deadline for 2012 is February 14th.

Jack DeRieux, Vice President of Education for the Foundation, explains the value of Student Days. The mentoring of working professionals outside the classroom expands the young artists’ understanding of their own strengths. Students encounter peers who share their passion for a particular form of creative expression. Immediate feedback allows students to fine tune their projects throughout the day. Photography and fine arts students have the opportunity to polish their work for display at the Visitors Center.

Four years ago DeRieux designed a follow up program for young writers and performers: Studio Retreat. Six budding playwrights and twelve aspir-ing actors selected from Student Days are brought to Tao House in July for an intensive weeklong workshop to collaborate on creating short scenes. Performances for the public at the end of the week provide live audience reaction. Hamin Kim who attended both the 2010 and 2011 sessions wrote: “I not only enjoyed myself during Student Days and the Studio Retreat, but I also learned to free my creativity and express ideas in unique dialogue. The instructors were accomplished writers who encouraged me to hone my writing skills and have fun creating art.”

Playwright’s Theatre, launched by the Foundation in 1996, provides professional staged readings and performances of Eugene O’Neill’s plays throughout the year. The 2012 season opened in January with an outstanding rendition of The Straw. Exorcism, a play thought to have been destroyed, will be included in the May offering. O’Neill’s last play, A Moon for the Misbe-

Tao House continued from front page

gotten, completed at Tao House in 1943, will be performed in September.Dan Cawthon, responsible for the success of Playwright’s Theatre for

many years, vividly recalls his reaction to being asked to join the Founda-tion Board in 1990. “Travis Bogard, who was the driving force behind the organization, was able to rally the support of Jason Robards, Jr.; the Oregon Shakespeare Festival was invited to perform A Moon for the Misbegotten on the lawn near the old barn; Ed Hasting, the artistic director at A.C.T., was part of the committee planning an international symposium on O’Neill in Danville; the National Park Service was doing a magnificent job restoring the house and providing tours. They were such an elite group! I was humbled by their invitation to join the Board of Directors.”

The O’Neills reluctantly sold their home in 1944. World War II had claimed the services of their staff. Without their driver they were trapped on the hill. By the mid-1960s, the property was up for sale again. The original members of the Foundation, led by Travis Bogard, worked for years to secure title to Tao House, then he fought for its acceptance as part of the National Park System so that sufficient funding for restoration and maintenance would

See Tao House continued on page 28


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Got Mold?By Gary & Karen Grunwald

The valleys of the East Bay have one of the mildest and most desirable climates in the entire world with no humidity and very little frost. Any outdoor sport or recreation can be found within a short drive. Despite

this mild climate, the outdoors is still the outdoors. There is dust and critters in dry times, and the recent rainstorms remind us of molds, mildew, and moss that accumulates during wet times.

Our home is subject to the changing outdoor weather conditions and vary-ing temperatures which require constant maintenance in order to maintain its value. Routine care and exterior maintenance is a must.

One of the most cost effective processes for that maintenance is a good hot water power wash from top to bottom. This hot steam washing process cleans the entire exterior of your home including outdoor living areas.

Applied with the appropriate amount of pressure for the surface being cleaned, the power wash will remove dirt and debris attached to your home’s exterior – roof tiles, gutters, stucco, brick, wood, siding, fences, window frames, as well as patios and decks.

Power Wash Pros is here to help maintain your investment. With over ten years providing professional cleaning services in the Los Angeles and Sac-ramento regions, we are now expanding in the East Bay, back to where we were raised. Some of the biggest concerns we hear from homeowners this time of year can be easily addressed with our pressure washing services.

Home Exterior Cleaning – During the fall and rainy season, mildew stains become dark and unsightly on wood siding and stucco. A hot steam pressure wash removes this mildew, and the appearance of the home is left sparkling. If your home’s appearance seems a little dull and dingy, it’s be-cause it’s dirty. If it doesn’t have the same fresh look you remember the day you moved in or had it last painted, it’s dirty. Cleaning it will bring back that fresh appearance. We often have homeowners tell us they were able to put off the next repainting for a few more years because regular cleaning

extends the life of the paint when done properly; too much pressure during this process can shorten it.

Roof/Gutter cleaning – Branches, twigs, berries, leaves, dirt, and debris accumulate and clog your roof’s drainage system, forcing water to spill over and splatter into landscaping. It can erode away groundcover and soil and cause a mess, or it can dribble down the side of the house eventually causing black streaks of mildew and moss. Power Wash Pros can blow clear your entire roof and gutter system, restoring the proper drainage and protecting the living areas below.

Fences, patios, decks, driveways, and outdoor areas – When the weather begins to warm, it’s time to restore your outdoor spaces to their best for your maximum enjoyment! Patios and pool decks collect moss and dirt, but with a pressure wash, these areas can be ready for spring and summer (the best time of the year!). Wood and composite decks can be cleaned and restored using cleaning products for a brand new look. Grey old wood can return to its original color without sacrifice to the wood.

Small Businesses and Shopping CentersIn addition to residential work, we have the insurance and licensing re-

quirements necessary to work with commercial property management, and we have excellent references for retail, office, and industrial buildings as well.About Power Wash Pros

Power Wash Pros is locally owned and operated by Gary and Karen Grun-wald, Alamo residents and parents of four busy children/teens. Both were raised in the area and are thrilled to return to Alamo to continue to raise their children in this wonderful community.

The Grunwalds founded the business in 2001. In ten years, the business expanded throughout the state, and additional services were added such as parking lot sweeping and day porter janitorial services. It’s a bit of a dirty job, but it is important work. We take pride in making homes and businesses look their absolute best.

If you would like a free consultation and quote, please call Gary at (925) 953-3537 or visit their website at www.powerwashpros.net. Advertorial

www.yourmonthlypaper.comArt in Everyday Life By Tony Michael Vecchio

Color. Almost everything we come into contact with, at some point, is defined, organized, and personalized by color. Hair. Skin. Sports teams. Nail polish. Cars. Paper. Flowers. Clothing. Paint.

Where would we be without color in our world? Color touches every part of our lives and is an important and intense aspect of life, even affecting our well-being. Color touches everyone in very different and dramatic ways, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Do you ever think about why you’re drawn to certain colors and not others? As a brief semi-scientific explanation, everything in the universe is in a constant state of vibration and tentative existence. Color vibrations are simply one useful way for our minds to interpret and define the physical properties of our world. Our brain translates what we perceive and experience into concepts, like color, which make life, and sometimes art, easier to comprehend.

So where do the original paint colors come from? How did the names of paints originate? Many books discuss color and its fascinating his-tory of organic materials, minerals, and chemical transformations in the often poison-fumed laboratories that existed in the world of alchemy during the Dark Ages. These materials from the earth have been endlessly cooked, ground, mixed, and magically concocted to bring forth

colors of paint that have been constantly refined and sanitized into the colors artists use today.Color has been a large part of my professional life as a designer, art director, and now, painter. I’ll write more on this subject in future columns, but for now, I want

to share some brief but interesting facts about color as a way to provide an introductory glimpse into its history and mystery. For centuries, artists stored paint in pigs’ bladders, which was messy and painstaking work. The skin was cut into little squares, on which wet paint was spooned,

and then the skin was tied up to keep it moist. It was then punctured when the artist needed the paint. Messy stuff. It wasn’t until 1841 that the collapsible tin tube was invented. Jean Renoir said, “Without oil paint in tubes, there would have been no Cezanne, no Monet, no Sisley or Pissarro: nothing of what you call Impressionism.” Meaning the ability to take paint outdoors to record nature was feasible. I, for one, am pleased, as I would get annoyed working with packages of pig bladders.

Ochre–iron oxide–was the first paint, and it was used on every inhabited continent since painting began. The valuable mineral has been mined, prized, traded, and employed throughout recorded history as a way to make images, color cloth, and adorn the body. The first white settlers in North America called the indigenous people “Red Indians” because of the way they painted themselves with ochre as a shield against evil, symbolizing the good elements of the earth.

Kohl is an alchemical metal called anti-mony, a traditional component used by cos-metic companies in products for decorative purposes. Kohl comes from an Arabic word kahala, meaning to stain the eyes.

The fundamentalist Taliban soldiers line their eyes with kohl to show that Allah is pro-tecting them. In Asia, it is often used as spiritual protection and for health cures. But the ancient Turks used this black mineral, which they called Alcohole, in a long “pencil” with which they decorated their eyelids. Seeing how pure the color was, they associated it with another product refined for mass use, and they found a permanent name for alcohol, the bane of Islam.

White, reflecting most light rays away from it giving a pure absence of color, symbolizes many things to many cultures. This includes death and sickness to some, purity and virginal to others. White paints were made of chalk, zinc, barium, rice, limestone, or bone. But the greatest of whites, the purest and brightest–and the deadliest, is made of lead. The alchemist’s dream and nightmare, the deadly fumes and dust have taken the lives of many in the chemical process. Written about since antiquity, “Lead White” had been, in its most dan-gerous form, utilized as face cream and makeup by Egyptian priestesses, Roman ladies, Japanese geishas, and up to the nineteenth century, was used by women of all complexions. Lead exposure gave the misleading impression of fashionable attractiveness in a woman, a consumptive-like appearance of pale, thin, and ethereal beauty. But after long use, chemical damage was usually fatal, and many women died in a cruel, unknowing sacrifice to fashion. More about color to come.

Local art exhibits: Danville’s Village Theatre Art Gallery’s “Abstract Dialogue”, runs through Feb-ruary 17th. Diablo Valley College Art Gallery presents “Telling Stories Through Art” runs through February 21st. The Alamo-Danville Artists’ Society’s (ADAS) exhibition, “Artistic Fusion,” runs through March 25th at the Blackhawk Art Gallery in Danville.

Tony Michael Vecchio writes about visual imagery, painting, and style. Contact him at [email protected]. His work is cur-rently at the Blackhawk Art Gallery, online at Etsy.com/shop/WabiSabiDaddi, and in the new DVC exhibit, Telling Stories Through Art.



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AmaWaterways Vineyards of the Rhine & Mosel RiversA Cruise Review By Suzie Martinez, Alamo World Travel & Tours

Last October I had the wonderful op-portunity to experience an AmaWaterways

European River Cruise. We boarded our ship, the Amadagio, in Amsterdam for a 7-night cruise, bound for Luxembourg, with stops in Cologne, Rudesheim, Mainz, Cochem, Koblenz, and Bernkastel.

As novice river cruisers, my husband and I hoped this would be a unique and different way to explore Europe. Were we ever pleased!

We discovered that traveling on a river ship is a great way to see Europe and relax on your vacation too! From the moment we stepped on board, we felt pampered. The Amadagio is an elegant, pristinely clean ship, staffed by a friendly crew. Our cruise director, Debbie, was amazing. She is a charming, multi-tasking marvel.

To navigate the rivers and many locks, river ships are small but still offer every convenience. With only 118 passengers on board our ship, it was easy to make new friends. Our cabin was luxurious and spacious. With all the built-in storage, you never felt cramped. The French balcony with glass sliding doors afforded us an expansive view of the awe-inspiring scenery that we glided past daily. Keep your cameras ready; every bend in the river is another photo op.

Dinning is at set times, but with open seating it was possible to sit with whomever you liked. The food was delicious and well prepared. Each day there were local of-ferings plus traditional choices on the menu, and AmaWaterways cruises’ include wine or beer with dinner. A welcome feature was the 24 hour self-serve coffee station in the lounge. You can make yourself a cafe latte anytime you like. Outside of the regular meal times, you will not go hungry, as snacks and treats are available in the lounges all day. One brisk sunny day, while enjoying the beautiful scenery from the top deck, the crew passed out shots of local schnapps to the guests.

Each day is a little different with a new town to visit and sev-eral options for no-cost shore excursions. The Amadagio has bikes on board, free for the guests to use on their own or a part of guided excursions. Several walking tours are offered including a slow walker’s tour and a late risers group.

One of our favorite days was the stop in Rudesheim. Our excursion took us into the hillside vineyards where we meet a local vintner. As our small group walked amongst the vines, stopping for wine testings, the vintner explained the region’s specialties and wine-making techniques. After the tour, we had time to wander the picture perfect town, buy souvenirs at the Christmas Shop, and, best of all, sample the town’s famous Rudesheimer Kaffee made with local Asbach brandy, coffee, and whipped cream. It was perfect on a cool fall day. The coffee is made in a special way, but I won’t spoil the surprise. You’ll have to take a river cruise yourself to discover this and all the other wonderful experiences that await you. Alamo World Travel is ready to help you plan your river cruise. Gather some friends, or go alone and make new friends. You will not be disappointed.

Alamo World Travel & Tours (31 years of Group, Individual, and Corporate Travel- Tours, Cruises and Hotels) 3201 Danville Blvd, Suite 255 Alamo, CA 94507 (Between Ace Hardware and the Peasants Courtyard) (925) 837-8742 (800) 848-8747 www.alamoworld.com -Thousands of travel options [email protected] CST#2008416-10 Advertorial

Warm UpBy Monica Chappell

When winter weather swirls in, nothing could be cozier than a toasty mug of mulled wine. Mulled wine, the vine’s version of a classic hot toddy, is a traditional treat in many Old World countries and has been warming people for centu-ries. These are wines that have been sweetened, spiced, and slightly heated - offering a delightful alternative to traditional coffees, ciders, and toddy’s on a cold winter’s night. Mulled wine is one of my favorite winter drinks because it is hot,

sweet, and possesses a very special power – it makes you beautifully warm inside. Pick Your Potion

While red wine and apple cider are the most traditional of the spiced winter warmers, you can also use white wine, hard cider, or ale. The primary spice combi-nations for mulled wine almost always include cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Nutmeg, star anise, allspice berries, cardamom pods, slices of fresh ginger, orange slices, and lemon zest are also good additions. The trick to infusing the wine without making it cloudy and gritty is to use whole spices rather than ground versions.Mix it Up

The mixture should be brought to a very gentle simmer over low heat and should not be boiled – that would cause the spices to turn bitter and make the alcohol evaporate. And, gee, that is the last thing in the world we want, right? To really allow the flavors of the spices to infuse into the wine, allow the mixture to simmer on the stovetop for at least half an hour. Mulled Wine Recipe

1 bottle of dry red wine (Merlot can stand up to heat and zing of spices)1 teaspoon almond extract2 cinnamon sticks (plus additional sticks for garnish) 3 whole cloves1 star anise 1 Tablespoon honeyPour wine into top of a double boiler and warm over medium heat. Add remaining

ingredients and stir until honey dissolves. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally. Ladle into mugs, garnish with an orange slice or cinnamon stick, and serve.

Monica Chappell is a local wine writer and educator. For a list of up-coming wine programs, visit www.wineappreciation101.blogspot.com.

[email protected]

Five: Manage your landscape water use: know your landscape watering needs. How much water is being applied? Adjust your controller often as weather conditions change. Install a new “Water Smart” controller. Set your controller to water early in the morning when evaporation rates are low and the wind is calm. Water deep and less often; this will allow water to get into the root zones. Avoid overwatering and run-off. Good water management saves thousands of gallons!

Six: Mulch! Mulch reduces water loss and prevents weed growth. Mulch often! Regularly mulch around your trees, shrubs, and ground covers, and cultivate your soil regularly to allow water to penetrate more easily.

Seven: Make saving water important to you! Every drip counts! Get involved in your garden. Use licensed landscape professionals to assist you in water-wise design and implementation of your garden.

A hot tip from your local Landscape Architect: Investing in a water-wise plant-ing and irrigation design for your new or existing garden can save you thousands of dollars over time. The savings can well exceed the cost of the design itself!

Gardening Quote of the Month: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.” - Native American Saying

If you would like me to write on any particular subject, email your ideas to [email protected] or for design ideas visit www.jm-la.com. Advertorial

Life in the Alamo Garden Water-Wise DesignBy John Montgomery, ASLA, Landscape Architect

I was holding breath that we would get some rain this season. I was starting to turn blue! I’m glad it’s here, finally, and I hope it keeps coming! Over the years I have implemented into my practice water-wise landscape design. I am a 5th generation native Californian and have been designing landscapes here for over 35 years. Over the years, living in and out of drought conditions, I have

learned to stay the course of good water-wise landscape design. As residents of Alamo, it is vital to conserve water as a habit. It seems we should know better by now, but we get fooled from season to season when we experience many years of El Nino. With global warming concerns, it is time to get smart and stay smart. Here are seven practices I always implement into my designs, and these are some of the same practices you can implement into your new or existing landscape no matter what the fore-cast might be.

One: Start with your soil. Thriving soil with good organ-ics is the foundation of a water conserving landscape. How much water you need to keep your landscape alive is directly equivalent to the amount of compost in your soil. Compost increases permeability and capacity to hold water, thus reducing the amount needed for irrigation and thus lowering your watering bills.

Two: Use Plants and Landscapes for Summer-dry Climates of the San Fran-cisco Bay Region (EBMUD book). The types of plants noted have adapted to summer dry conditions, and once established, they can survive dry summers with little or no water. There is an old gardener’s adage: “right plant – right place.” Appropriately designed planting requires less watering, pruning, fertilizing, and spraying, thus lowering operating costs and use of resources. Minimize your lawn area. One thousand square feet of turf can use about 10,000 gallons of water per dry season. If you absolutely need a lawn minimize, the size and place them where they will be used for relaxation and play.

Three: Cluster your plantings by water needs. This method is known as hydro-zoning. In a hot sunny location, group sun-loving, low water use plants and then design the irrigation system to water that cluster of plants. The same goes for shade areas. Hydro-zoning can more easily match plant requirements thus saving water. Hydro-zoning allows you to separate your irrigation valves so each zone can be managed more accurately. This method can save you an unbelievable amount of water.

Four: Design and install high efficiency irrigation systems. Use bubbler and drip irrigation where possible so that water can be applied directly to the root zone. Minimize spray irrigation where possible. Use the newest irrigation technology; MPR (matched precipi-tation rates) sprinkler heads, bubbler, drip, micro-sprays, soaker lines, and upgrade to a new controller. There are many choices that offer high technol-ogy that uses historical weather data, solar and moisture sensors, rain sen-sors, and some can detect problems like a broken sprinkler head. I was able to adjust my controller last summer to save 15% water consumption. With new technology I believe you could easily save 25-50% of the water you use for your landscape now!

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What is Income?No matter what the weather report says, each new year brings a flurry of in-

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That definition encompasses all income earned anywhere in the world, in-cluding cash and non-cash receipts from sources such as bartering, discharge of debts, and illegal activities.

In addition, you probably noticed there's no reference to amount. So, although you might not get an information form for amounts under specified limits — the familiar $600 figure for Form 1099-MISC, for example — that income is reportable on your tax return.

Despite the broad nature of the term, not everything you receive is considered gross income. For instance, rebates, refunds, and purchase price adjustments are specifically excluded. Gifts, inheritances, and proceeds from life insurance policies are other familiar exclusions.

However, in contrast to gross income, exclusions tend to be narrowly defined. An illustration: While proceeds from life insurance policies are generally not taxable to you as a beneficiary, interest earned on the proceeds typically is.

Your state may have different rules on what's includable and excludable when calculating income.

Give us a call if you have questions about the tax effect of your receipts dur-ing 2011. We'll help you dig out the answers.


5. You can deduct the costs of running your business. These costs are known as business expenses. These are costs you do not have to capitalize or include in the cost of goods sold but can deduct in the current year.

6. To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

If you are starting a business, losses are acceptable in your first years of operation. Keep accurate records of all your expenses to show your tax preparer. There are guidelines as to how many years you are allowed to show losses. IRS is liberal on it’s interpretation as long as the proven effort for profits can be shown.

Finally, individuals who work from their home can take an itemized deduction for use of home. There are three tests that must be met:

• Working from your home is for the convenience of your employer.• The area designated is used REGULARLY and EXCLUSIVELY for

your business.There are exceptions to the exclusive rule for storage of inventory.Tax season for the Danville office of H&R Block is now getting busy. It

is wonderful for me to see and hear from all my clients. You are the rea-son I look forward to returning each year, and I look forward to meeting new clients that I can help with their tax planning.

Please call me at any time at 925-820-9570 with ques-tions. Advertorial


Tree of the SeasonCoast Live Oak, Quercus agrifoliaBy Blaine Brende & Joe Lamb

If you have a coast live oak in your yard you will understand that its Latin name, Quercus agrifolia, is appropriate. Agrifolia means spiny leaves. And though

the tree retains green leaves throughout the year, it also sheds dead leaves, many dead leaves, and they are less than friendly on bare feet. If you are lucky enough to have a mature coast live oak in your garden, you are well aware that its sculptural qualities more than compensate for the ongoing maintenance this big beast requires. I find comfort in the manner wherein old trees twist into their strangely beautiful form, their rugged bark accentuat-ing, in counterpoint, their grace and openness. The generous shade offered by their broad crowns seems to invite one to lounge against their trunks and think about things that are never on TV.

Agrifolia became the dominant tree of the costal plain, not because it’s beautiful, but because it’s tough. Though plagued by several diseases and pests, the continuing ubiquity of live oaks over the millennia is testament to their ability to resist diseases and fight off pests. Several fungal diseases, with the generic names “twig blights” and “oak branch dieback,” attack the crowns of live oaks. Brown patches in your oak’s canopy are most likely from these fungal diseases. An aesthetic debit, they rarely pose a serious threat to the life of the tree. Unsightly deadwood can be pruned out. Though these diseases come from water-borne fungi, they often occur in oaks weakened by drought stress.

It is common knowledge that over-watering coast live oaks is a good way to kill the tree. Too much summer water promotes the growth of oak root fungus, a common soil fungus that can turn lethal in soggy soils. Less widely appreciated is that summer watering of oaks can make them more disease- and insect-resistant IF, and it is a big IF, they are watered correctly. Correct summer watering of coast live oaks requires placing a soaker hose in a circle around the tree at least ten feet from the trunk and running the water for about two hours–sunset is a good time. It is important to water the tree not more than once a month: once in July, once in August, once in

September, and once in October. Over-watering can kill oaks by stimulating parasitic fungi. Judicious watering during dry summers gives the tree a boost but doesn’t encourage root diseases. It’s better not to water oaks at all than to over-water them, and lawns, grown under the canopy of the oaks, are a common cause of over-watering. One way to make your oak (and the many creatures it supports) happy is to turn lawn under the canopy over to native, drought-tolerant plants. This saves water and reduces the likelihood your oak will get a root disease. Oaks also appreciate a layer of mulch. Mulch helps aerate the soil and improves the environment for beneficial soil creatures.

Given that the current stewards of the coastal plain seldom burn the woodlands, most of our oak forests have built up a significant load of dead wood. To prevent a crown fire, like the one that ravaged the East Bay in 1991, it is important to make all landscape trees and shrubs more fire safe. At Brende and Lamb it is our fervent hope that all current players in the ongoing drama of the oak woodlands act to maintain a healthy ecosystem in which coast live oaks, and the many creatures that depend on them, continue to appear center stage.

Unfortunately, we a starting to see a few cases of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) in the East Bay, concentrated mostly in forested parklands. The SOD pathogen infects susceptible oaks during spring rainstorms. It is difficult to prevent an oak from being infected, but there are steps to reduce the prob-ability of infection, such as the application of Agrifos in Autumn. Further, California bay trees can be a host to SOD, where it occurs as a leaf disease. Infected bays don’t die, but they can spread the spores to oaks as water drips from the bay leaves onto the trunk of an oak. Studies show that pruning back Bay trees to give a 10 foot separation from your oaks can significantly lower the infection rate. At this time, preventative action is the only way of treating the disease. It takes two years for an infected tree to show any sign of infection, and once infected there is no way to cure the disease.

The best place to find current information on SOD is the California Sud-den Oak Task Force at www.suddenoakdeath.org.

If your trees need a little TLC, please call 510-486-TREE (8733) or email us at [email protected] for a free estimate. Additionally, go to our website www.brendelamb.com to see before and after pictures, client testimonials, and work in your neighborhood. Advertorial

925.820.9570 714 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Suite B, Danville

Sycamore Square (next to Lucky’s) [email protected]

Bob Shalon, EAMaster Tax Advisor • Enrolled Agent

Tax TipsTax Tips for the Self Employed By Bob Shalon, IRS Enrolled Agent, H&R Block, Danville

With the economy still struggling to recover, many of my clients have turned to self employ-ment to either supplement their wages or replace them altogether.

Below are six key points the IRS would like you to know about self-employment and self-

employment taxes:1. Self-employment can include work in addition to your regular full-time

business activities, such as part-time work you do at home or in addition to your regular job.

2. If you are self-employed, you generally have to pay self-employment tax as well as income tax. Self-employment tax is a Social Security and Medicare tax primarily for individuals who work for themselves. It is similar to the Social Security and Medicare taxes withheld from the pay of most wage earners. You figure self-employment tax using a Form 1040 Schedule SE. Also, you can deduct half of your self-employment tax in figuring your adjusted gross income.

3. If you file an IRS Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business. It is not necessary to form a corporation and incur additional expenses, especially if you are a sole proprietor.

4. If you are self-employed, you may have to make estimated tax payments. This applies even if you also have a full-time or part-time job and your employer withholds taxes from your wages. Estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding. If you fail to make quarterly pay-ments, you may be penalized for underpayment at the end of the tax year.

[email protected] Alamo Today ~ February 2012- Estate Planning 2012:Teaching Old Dogs a New Trick By Robert J. Silverman, Attorney at Law

In 2012, law surrounding core estate planning - hav-ing up-to-date Living Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives – remains largely unchanged, but it remains as vital as ever. However, a powerful new trick is available to us old dogs. By the way, for the purposes of this article, you qualify as an “old dog” if you are old enough to pay taxes!

The essence of the “new trick” (which is a bit of a misnomer since it’s perfectly legal, and no smoke and mirrors are involved) is that: a) 2012 Federal Estate & Gift Tax (collectively known as “transfer tax”) rules provide an extraordinary opportunity for shifting wealth from one generation to the next; and b) the window to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity is scheduled to close at or before the end of this year.

The focus of this article will be to summarize this extraordinary opportunity and explain why it’s so critical that people - particularly those with larger estates - under-stand and consider implementing one or more opportune strategies before the window closes.

I’ll start by giving you some background for context, including transfer tax rules that: a) applied in the recent past; b) apply now; and c) are scheduled to apply start-ing January, 2013. Transfer Tax Background & Current Rules:

1) In the 1990’s, the Estate Tax exemption – amount of net assets you can own on your death without being subject to tax – was in the $600,000’s, with any excess over that amount taxed at a top tax rate of 55%.

2) Between 2001 and 2009, the Estate Tax exemp-tion increased periodically from $1 Million to $3.5 Million, with a top tax rate of 45% (and Estate Tax was temporarily repealed for 2010).

3) From 2001 through 2010, the Gift Tax system provided that (with some notable exceptions that are beyond the scope of this article) the aggregate lifetime amount you could give away to any number of individu-als – e.g. to your children and/or grandchildren – without being subject to Gift Tax was $1 Million.

4) On Dec. 17, 2010, legislation bumped up the Estate Tax exemption to $5 Million for 2011 and $5.12 Million (in-dexed for inflation) for 2012, with a top tax rate of 35%.

5) Starting in 2011, the Gift Tax exemption increased from $1 Million to $5 Million!

6) The new, dramatically higher Estate Tax and Gift Tax exemptions and lower tax rates apply only through the end of 2012. If no new legislation is enacted by the end of this year, on January 1, 2013, the Estate Tax ex-emption decreases to $1 Million, with any excess taxed at a top 55% tax rate, and the Gift Tax exemption will also go down to $1 Million. Extraordinary Planning Opportunity:

Estate Tax and Gift Tax are widely unpopular, and the trend for decades has been to maintain or increase ap-plicable exemptions. Nevertheless, what will happen in 2013 and beyond is difficult to predict. What is certain is that the Gift Tax exemption is at an unprecedented level of more than $5 Million (more than $10 Million combined for a married couple), but in less than a year, it’s scheduled to drop precipitously to $1 Million.

Thus, if you have sufficient wealth to comfortably af-ford to make substantial gifts to loved ones before the end of this year or before new legislation passes, whichever comes sooner, there’s a compelling argument to do so. At the current 35% Estate Tax rate, for every $1 Million in assets you can gift and thus remove from your taxable estate before you die, your loved ones potentially benefit by avoiding tax liability of $350,000 upon your death. At the scheduled top tax rate of 55% for 2013, that potential

benefit is $550,000! Moreover, all of the future income and appreciation of whatever amount you gift grows in the estates of your loved ones (rather than remaining in your estate and being subject to Estate Tax upon your death).

Quite a few different kinds of viable strategies exist to take advantage of the opportunity. These include those that allow gifts to be controlled rather than given outright (with no strings attached) and also those that involve gifting non-liquid as-sets. The “bottom line” is that there’s truly no time like the present to explore these strategies that will potentially result in radically lower transfer tax liability, and thus acting now will ultimately provide much more for your loved ones.

Mr. Silverman is an attorney with Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP, 1333 N. California Street, Suite 350, Walnut Creek, CA 94596; (925) 944-9700; [email protected]. His practice emphasizes Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate, Real Estate, and Business. Mr. Silverman offers a free introductory consultation.

This article is intended to provide information of a general nature, and should not be relied upon as legal, tax, financial and/ or business advice. Readers should obtain and rely upon specific advice only from their own qualified professional advisors. This communication is not intended or written to be used, for the purpose of: i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; or ii) promot-ing, marketing, or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein. Advertorial

From Our Family to Yours

Call our office today.

The New York Life family is here to help you achieve your financial goals through the products we offer. Whether you’re purchasing a first home, starting a family or business, accumulating funds for your children’s education, or saving for retirement, we will work with you to develop a financial strategy that’s right for you.

© 2011 New York Life Insurance Company, 51 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010. SMRU00454979CV (Exp. 08/25/13)

From left to right:

552-7152

Group Photo Here

Pictured are agents of the Greater San Francisco General Office of New York Life Insurance Company in Alamo.

John Erwin "EJ" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D37634), Emma M. Magbitang (CA Ins. Lic. #0710892), Julius Elmer "Joel" M. Magbitang, LUTCF (CA Ins. Lic. #0D35676) 3000 Danville Blvd., Suite L Alamo, CA 94507 Tel. (925) 552-7152 / Fax (925) 552-7127 www.MagbitangFinancialGroup.com


Theft continued from front page

Lic# 1100014354; Bay Area Entertainment

Flexibility and Incentive TrustsBrought to you by Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron

In conjunction with Waldron Wealth Advisors, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor.

Grantors who are leery about passing their hard-earned wealth to heirs with relaxed lifestyles and spending habits may find incentive trusts to be useful. Uncertain about the future behavior of their heirs, wealthy families can use incentive trusts to motivate beneficiaries to act in a particular way to earn future benefits.

Incentive trusts are irrevocable grants of money to your heirs and can be created using insurance trusts, living trusts, credit shelter trusts and dynasty trusts. Perhaps from a desire to control their assets and to inspire their heirs to be responsible, some grantors create extensive provisions within the trust by specifying that the heir be employed, educated, married, starting a business, or be free of drug or gambling habits to qualify for distributions.

Some common examples of incentive trusts include:• Direct payment incentive trusts. The grantor plans to pay for certain bills

directly, such as health insurance, mortgage, rent and/or tuition rather than providing cash. One drawback is the beneficiary might not learn money management.

• Education incentive trusts. Encourages a beneficiary to attend college, maintain a particular grade point average, and graduate within a specific time period. In exchange, the trust pays for tuition, books, transportation, and living expenses. This seems reasonable, but heirs could choose a less challenging course of study to guarantee success rather than pursuing their real interests.

• Entrepreneur incentive trusts. Provides venture capital for projects that meet established criteria. Because not everyone has the ability or interest in developing their own business, this might lead to an unintended and uneven distribution of wealth among your heirs.

Any restriction can be built into a trust as long as the restriction is not illegal. For example, you cannot specify that your heir marry a person of a particular race or divorce a current spouse to qualify for the trust. Granting Broad Authority

If you decide to create an incentive trust, think carefully about what you are trying to accomplish with trust parameters—then build flexibility into the trust. Your financial planner can help you determine how to balance your desires against the needs and wants of your heirs so that the trust fund motivates them, rather than spoils or restricts them.

If set up properly, incentive trusts can support the grantor’s philosophy and values while meeting the unknown future needs of the heirs. Trusts are often set up years in advance; if the plan is too specific, it becomes restrictive and counterproductive because heirs cannot get the support they need. Setting up a trust with a mission statement that expounds on your philosophy and values

may be more effective than a trust driven by meeting specific provisions. Incentive trusts commonly reward productive behavior with an income-

matching grant. If the trust matches an earned salary using a particular formula, a grantor may inadvertently reward high-paying professions and influence the career choices of the heirs.

For example, someone planning to be a teacher might abandon a passion to educate others to become a stockbroker with higher earning power. In this case, a teacher and a stockbroker are equally productive members of society, but the disparity in income is enormous. The grantor should consider expressing his or her general philosophy within the trust—such as the desire for heirs to be productive members of society—while granting broad authority to trustees. The trustee can then operate within the spirit of the trust, equally awarding the stockbroker and teacher assets from the trust. Selecting a Trustee

The most important part of establishing an incentive trust is selecting your trustee. The trustee should be someone skilled in trust administration who supports your philosophy and values. If you select a friend, it is a good idea to also choose a professional co-trustee to help administer the trust.

If the size of your trust is more than $10 million, you might be better served by a trust committee that meets outlined parameters, such as the number of members and their professions. You should also include provisions for remov-ing a trustee and a succession plan for managing the trust across decades.

Holding a family meeting that includes your heirs, financial planners, trustee, and lawyer is a great forum to discuss your intentions and legacy. It’s important for your heirs to understand your philosophy, values, and goals as it relates to their inheritance. Discussing your thoughts about trust funds and soliciting input from your heirs can help minimize misunderstandings and help your heirs plan for their futures.

Please contact Peter Waldron to schedule a complimentary review of your financial situation, call 925-659-0383 or email [email protected].

Peter T. Waldron & Robert J. Waldron Jr. are registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a broker/dealer, member SIPC, and offers investment advisory service through Sage-mark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a registered investment advisor, Waldron Wealth Advisors, 3000 Executive Parkway, Ste 400, San Ramon, CA 94583. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. This information should not be con-strued as legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a tax advisor regarding this information as it relates to your personal circumstance. The content of this material was provided to you by Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. for its representatives and their clients. CRN201103-2051856 Advertorial

in the Lexus stolen from cars throughout Belvedere. In all, six vehicles had been ransacked recently in town. Miller was booked in Marin County Jail on possession of stolen property, suspicion of burglary, and vehicle theft. Bail was set at $50,000.

Lynn would like to give full credit to the Belvedere City Police Department for their alert actions that led to the recovery of one of their cars.

Although the Cox family has their Lexus sedan back, no trace has been found of their Lexus SUV or Miller’s accomplice in the theft. As it is likely the thieves have switched the license plates, the car will probably not be found unless the vehicle is abandoned or used in another crime.

Meanwhile, five days later, neighbors of the Coxes called to report a suspi-cious car had been parked in front of their home for five days. Responding to the report of an abandoned car, sheriff’s deputies discovered the car had been stolen in Berkeley several days before. It was likely that this was the car the auto thieves had driven to the neighborhood, and finding two cars to steal at the Cox home, they had abandoned this car. The abandoned car was full of stolen goods – com-puters, cameras, garage door openers, keys and most alarming, birth certificates. Investigation is continuing of the presumed identity theft and burglary ring.

Lynn would like Alamo residents to know that it is possible to be lured by a false sense of security in Alamo. “I have previously felt safe in my neighborhood. We live in a cul-de-sac off a cul-de-sac in a quiet area. We no longer leave our doors unlocked or our cars unlocked. Please tell everyone to be careful and be aware!”

For further crime reports, please see the Alamo District P-2, Zone B article on page 7. Alamo Today has obtained permission to print the Alamo deputy’s monthly report of notable incidents in town. The Alamo resident deputy is an extra sheriff’s deputy funded by the P-2, Zone B County Service Area (CSA). This special tax jurisdiction was voted in by Alamo voters way back in 1969. The CSA’s annual budget of around $200,000 is funded by a portion of the 1% property tax along with an $18 per parcel special tax from around 60% of Alamo homeowners. (Since the tax dates back to 1969, areas of town not considered Alamo at the time were not included. For instance, northwest Alamo was considered south Walnut Creek and therefore is not included in the P-2B district; and eastern Alamo, Whitegate and Bryan Ranch, was considered Danville and so therefore not included).


before has the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child,” been more apt. Teen Esteem is that village.

Teen Esteem was founded in 1994 by Linda Turnbull out of concern that many young people were lured to risky behaviors that could potentially lead to negative lifelong repercussions. Executive Director Turnbull and her team of four part-time staff members, a board of directors, trained volunteer speakers, and community volunteers work together to equip, educate, and empower teens and their parents on issues related to health, well-being, self-respect, and respect for others.

Through volunteer speakers and ongoing interaction with school administrators, counselors, law enforcement, doctors and parents, Teen Esteem has the ability to ac-curately access current youth culture and trends, and in turn, relevantly address high school and middle schools students throughout the Tri-Valley area with their “Healthy Choices” presentations. Teen Esteem speakers are young adults, trained to deliver an informative, dynamic, and memorable message. The parent education team includes community professionals who, through informational events, equip parents as to how they can best prepare their child for the turbulent adolescent years.

A presentation example includes the “teacup analogy” exercise: three volunteer students each choose a cup- a red plastic cup, a chipped ceramic coffee mug, or a fine china teacup. They are asked to describe what their cup is used for, how they feel about it, how long they will keep it, and if it is special. Resulting dialogue is reflective of how the students view themselves and how they allow others to treat them: Party cup: flashy, pretty, no worth, disposable, easily forgotten. Chipped mug: dependable but replaceable, boring, not special, temporary. Fine china teacup: special, unique, having great worth, deserving respect and protection. A presenter then asks the group of students if they know others at school who view themselves as one of the various cups. The students are then informed that they are all teacups - special, unique and valuable – and that each student deserves the very best in life.

“Self esteem and self image are difficult issues to discuss amongst teens in a manner to which they’ll listen,” says Teen Esteem Program Developer Heather Small. “The teacup analogy really works for us.”

More than 140,000 students have heard the Teen Esteem message since 1994, and more than 10,000 parents have been reached through parent education events. “The most valuable feedback we receive is from students thanking us for the in-formation we provide,” says Turnbull. “This indicates that our presentation is not only relevant and crucial to their world, but it is an encouragement and reminder for them to be informed and to think through their choices.”

Small quotes the following testimonial from a high schooler who was influ-enced by the Healthy Choices presentation: “The speakers brought to my attention

Teen continued from front page the types of pressures I would face in high school and ways to avoid making poor choices. I was able to keep my commit-ment to myself, not engage in risky behavior and stay focused on what was important to me. At graduation, two of my peers approached me to tell me how much they respected the choices I made throughout high school, and that they wished they had been able to do the same. Both of them had a lot of baggage they were dealing with due to some of the poor choices they had made.”

Turnbull cites a desire to double the number of students reached each year, and their new multi-media assembly project will help to achieve this goal. “With community grants from the San Ramon Kiwanis Club and the Diablo Country Club Foundation, we have been working for the past three years on this project,” says Turnbull, who acknowledges the need for $10,000 in order to complete and facilitate additional assemblies. “Our new multi-media assembly will engage students with video footage, live testimonies regarding high-risk choices related to drugs, alcohol and prescription drug abuse, and the subsequent consequences,” says Turnbull. “Our cast will include parents, law enforcement, medical personnel, young adults, and a moderator. The audience will experience how some choices can lead to tragic endings with devastating impact on family and friends. Our ultimate goal is to get kids thinking about how choices they are making can impact them today and in the future in either a positive or negative way. Choices made today will determine their tomorrows!”

The annual number of Teen Esteem presentations is relative to the number of volunteer speakers available. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Heather Small at [email protected]. For more information on Teen Esteem and how you can help, visit www.teenesteem.com, where you can also sign up for their newsletter. For weekly parenting tips and resources, “like” them on Facebook. Teen Esteem will be presenting at the The San Ramon Valley PTA Parenting Con-ference, February 25th; visit www.srvcouncilpta.org for more information.

Get S.M.A.R.T.A Teen Esteem tool to use when mak-

ing a difficult decision or avoid a difficult situation: Get S.M.A.R.T.

S – Say no. Be comfortable using this super important tool!

M – Make up your mind about your values. Do it now, not later!

A - Accountability. Make friends with those who support you and your values!

R – Respect. No one wants to be treated with disrespect. Treat others with respect, even if they don’t act like they want it!

T – Think beyond the moment. It could save you from broken dreams and LOTS of heartache.

The “Case” for Athletic ScreeningBy Drew Nash, M.D. 1-to-1 Pediatrics

Greetings from Danville! As 1-to-1 Pediatrics ap-proaches its first anniversary, I want to reach out and give thanks to all of the individuals and families who have supported me during my transition. My unique hometown style pediatric practice is thriving in the his-toric A.J. Young house on San Ramon Valley Boulevard. Even with this success, there is some misinformation

floating around regarding what 1-to-1 Pediatrics is all about. Suffice it to say that unless information comes from me or my office directly, it might not be accurate. My practice has remained an in-network provider for most commercial PPO and HMO insurance plans. As a supplementary option, my office continues to offer services not traditionally available in the primary care realm such as in-home newborn care, house calls, educational seminars and support groups. Practicing this way is a breath of fresh air - both for me and the families I care for.

One of the “hot topics” in adolescent medicine is screening of the competitive athlete prior to participation. What level of evaluation is necessary to minimize the risk of life-threatening events? Many of the cardiac dysrhythmias that can result in death can be detected with screening not available (or practical) in most primary care settings.

Recently, many professional athletes have been sidelined with concussions for prolonged periods of time. This is the result of better understanding and con-sensus by the medical community regarding management of these injuries. The adolescent athlete represents a more complicated situation as they often don’t

exhibit physical symptoms of concussion after a head injury. Consequentially, when teenagers do experience headaches and other post-concussive symptoms, they may have suffered a substantially greater degree of brain trauma than an adult with equivalent symptoms.

Over the past few years, several tragic outcomes of sports related head injuries have garnered national media attention. “Second impact syndrome” can cause death or severe morbidity in athletes who sustain recurrent head trauma before an initial injury has sufficient chance to heal.

The newest offering of 1-to-1 Pediatrics is the Comprehensive Athletic Screening Evaluation (CASE). This examination tool is designed to screen the competitive athlete for potential cardiac, neurologic, and orthopedic problems which might put the adolescent at risk for both injury and tragedy. CASE includes a detailed, relevant history of the athlete and their family for risk factors and “red flags,” a physical examination with detail focused on the cardiac, neuro-logic and orthopedic systems, a 12-lead electrocardiogram with computerized interpretation, and baseline neuro-cognitive testing. In the event of a head injury or suspected concussion, the athlete can be retested and followed over time. By having this baseline testing performed, the clinician can more accurately deter-mine when the concussed athlete is ready to return to play.

As an integral part of the community, 1-to-1 Pediatrics is offering CASE to all athletes in the community aged 12 and over. You need not be a regular patient here to obtain this level of screening and reas-surance. Call the office at 925-362-1861, email [email protected] or visit our website www.1to1pediatrics.com to find out more and schedule your child’s CASE. Advertorial


Preparing for EarthquakesBy Roger Smith, President AIA

A visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website www.fema.gov can provide you with a significant amount of infor-mation to prepare for a natural disaster, such as an earthquake.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning. Identifying potential hazards

in advance and planning for an earthquake can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life during an earthquake event. Plan Ahead

Develop an Emergency Communication PlanFamily members separated from one another during a disaster need a

contact person outside of the disaster area to act as a message center. Ask a relative or friend from another geographic area to serve as the family contact. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person and has either a cell phone or prepaid telephone card to use.

Educate Yourself and Family MembersContact the local office of the American Red Cross (www.redcrossbayarea.

org or 888-443-5722) or local emergency management office such as the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District -SRVFPD - (www.firedepartment.org or 925-838-6600) for information. Teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water if necessary.

Identify Safe Places – Both Indoors and OutdoorsLook for safe spaces such as under sturdy furniture, against inside walls,

or in outdoor open spaces away from structures such as trees, telephone/electrical lines, highway overpasses, and elevated expressways.

Have Disaster Supplies On-SiteHave water (two gallons, per person, per day, for two weeks), emergency

food, knife, can opener, first aid kit and manual, medicines, flashlights and radios with extra batteries, and pet food and care supplies.

Review emergency planning websites for more information on additional equipment and supplies.

Check for Hazards in the HomeSecurely fasten shelves to the walls. Place large or heavy objects on lower

shelves. Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches. Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit. Use braces and extra brackets for overhead light fixtures. As always, repair any defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections immediately as these pose substantial fire risks. Secure your water heater by strapping it to wall studs and bolting it to the floor. Place all pesticides, weed killer, and flammable products securely on the bottom shelves of closed, locked cabinets.

Help Your Community Get ReadyWork with local emergency services, such as the SRVFPD and officials

from the American Red Cross, to prepare to assist those residents with dis-abilities or other mobility impairments.

Learn more about Local Emergency ServicesPlease mark your calendars for March 24th, for our Alamo Public

Safety Fair. This event will be held at Creekside Community Church lo-cated at 1350 Danville Blvd. in Alamo and will be open to the public from 10AM to 2PM.

Program information will be provided by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Dept. San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, Office of Emergency Services, American Red Cross and others.

Information will be presented on programs, such as Neighborhood Watch, Civilian Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Emergency Preparedness for Local and Regional disasters, along with fingerprinting of children for family identification records and other programs. Information will also be presented and available on communication in emergency situations with local first response organizations.

The Eye OpenerBy Gregory Kraskowsky, O.D., Alamo OptometryMedical Eye Visits

As your local full-service eye care office, we were finding that all of our patients’ eyecare needs were not being met. To help fulfill all needs, we are expanding our service to include more medical eye services. We were always being asked about visits for red eyes, ocular allergies, infections, abrasions, etc., but our practice was not on most

of the medical plans that would cover that type of visit. We have recently been added to most PPO plans including Anthem

Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, HealthNet, and United Health Care. These plans will cover your visit minus any office co-pays like it would for your regular medical exams and specialist visits.

For ocular medical visits, it is always advisable to see an eye care pro-fessional. We are trained specifically to treat eye disorders and infections better than pediatricians, internists, and emergency room physicians. We see patients of all ages from kids to adults, and we have the equipment, knowledge, and best treatment options to handle most eye conditions. Our microscopes, dyes, drops, and tools allow us to fully view and assess the eye to help reach the correct diagnosis and proper treatment. In our office we routinely diagnose and treat conjunctivitis, corneal infections, foreign bodies, corneal abrasions, and allergies. These conditions are effectively managed and resolved for the patient within a short period of time.

Some conditions such as retinal detachments and glaucoma can be diagnosed at our office, but these would require a referral to an oph-thalmological specialist for surgery or further treatment. These certain situations would require a visit to a specialist regardless of which type of doctor is seen first, i.e. an optometrist, general ophthalmologist, internal medicine, or emergency room physician. However, eye care doctors should be the first-line doctor to see the patient as they are more likely

to correctly diagnose and manage the patient.Appointments for red eyes, floaters, allergies, etc. generally can be

seen on the same day. We ask that you call when symptoms arise, and we will do our best to accommodate you as soon as we can. Even if you are squeezed into the schedule and have to wait for a little while, it is better than having to sit in an emergency room for a few hours. Since the eyes can be very sensitive, a quick diagnosis and initiation of treatment is paramount for a full and speedy recovery.

In addition to providing primary eye care including glasses and con-tact lenses, we are expanding our service to our patients by adding more medical plans and medical visits to our practice. Next time any medical situation with the eyes arises, give our office a call, and we will try to get you a same-day appointment to help treat those irritated eyes.

Dr. K. at Alamo Optometry is your hometown eye doctor for outstanding service, vision care, and designer eyewear. He can be reached at 820-6622 or visit his office at 3201 Danville Blvd., Suite 165 in Alamo. Visit our newly updated website at, www.alamooptometry.com, and become a fan on our Alamo Optometry Facebook page. Advertorial

Calling all Instructors!The Town of Danville Seniors Services division is looking for qualified

instructors to offer classes for adults 55 years and over at the newly renovated Veterans Memorial Building which is set to open early 2012. If you have the knowledge and skills to teach nutrition, health and fitness, language, craft, and/or hobby classes to adults over 55, you are encouraged to submit a proposal. Classes will be offered at various times including early evenings and weekends.

For more information on how to become a Town of Danville instructor, please contact Jenn Overmoe, Program Coordinator for Senior Services by email at [email protected] or by phone at (925) 314-3491.


www.yourmonthlypaper.com7. Pre-operative Appointment: A thorough preoperative evaluation is then

done, and every step of preparation, surgery day, and post operative care is care-fully explained. We schedule a mammogram, lab work, and EKG. Our surgery fee is an all-inclusive package with medications, garments, and dressings.

8. Surgery Day: When the day arrives, my patient is ready. We go over the plan together once again. Although the surgery usually takes an hour, the patient spends the day at our fully accredited private surgery center in Lafayette in the comfort and safety of our caring staff. The day of surgery is really only the mid-point of our patient relationship. We often arrange for our local and out of town patients to stay and be cared for by one of our nurses in a local hotel.

9. Recovery: The process is defined and clear from the detailed preoperative visit. You will be awake the night after surgery and can resume mild activities immediately. If one of my nurses stays with you the first night, you will be kept comfortable, and I am available for you if you have any questions or concerns after the procedure. We follow our patient’s progress frequently after surgery with visits at one week, one month, and six months.

10. Continued Care for Breast Health: I want to see you every year (at no charge) for a breast exam. We remain available to you and hope to see you on a regular basis for your skin care, injectable, laser, plastic, and cosmetic surgery needs.

My goal as a woman surgeon is to help each woman feel great in her body. This may or may not involve any surgery at all. It is about what a woman wants. If you have any questions or concerns about your breasts or think it may be time for a change, it would be my pleasure to take the time for an in-depth consultation with you.

Barbara Persons, MD is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. She is avail-able at Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc. 911 Moraga Rd, Suite 205, Lafayette 925 283 4012 or [email protected]. Advertorial


Breast Surgery – Is it Time for a Change?By Barbara Persons, MD, Persons Plastic Surgery, Inc.

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that enables each woman to achieve the breast size and shape she desires. Despite the popularity of this proce-dure, it requires a highly trained surgeon with extensive technical skill and a true sense of artistry.

This is why I recommend that prospective clients consult with a plastic surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Additionally, I am fortunate to have spent an additional year specifically on aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, called a “Fellowship,” in addition to my eight years of surgery and plastic surgery training - including chief resident years in both specialties.

Once a woman has had a breast augmentation, she will likely require or desire revision 5, 10 or 15 years later. She may want or need a revision after weight change, having children, or wanting to go from saline to silicone, or she may sim-ply have a desire to be smaller or larger. Nearly every clinic day, I see a woman who has had breast implants done at another time, in another place who wants to look better naked. Yes, naked. A breast revision can certainly help in this regard, and it may mean that one or both implants needs to be removed and replaced. A breast lift may be indicated at the time of revision if excess tissue has developed, lowering the breast. The achievement of exceptional breast revision results requires more thought, planning, and accuracy than the original augmentation procedure. It may also be more expensive.

Despite a durable outer silicone shell on all implants, a deflation or rupture can occur. Deflation of a saline (salt water) implant is easily recognized as it happens fairly quickly and results in a visible difference in the size of the breast. This is not dangerous, because the implant is filled with salt water which is the same as intravenous fluid. A loss of integrity of a silicone implant is also not dangerous and is usually more subtle as the silicone gel remains in the breast pocket. If there is a deflation of a gel implant, the feel of the implant could change (harder or softer). It is important to consult with a plastic surgeon at your earliest convenience to get the implant removed and replaced. Waiting could allow more scar tissue to develop, which can then make it difficult to recreate a natural look.

As our bodies change due to age, pregnancy, and natural weight gain or loss, our desired breast size and shape will also change. An implant that looks attractive on a 120 pound 22 year old may look less proportional on a 35 year old mother of three at 150 pounds. Getting the beautiful or younger look back will require a change. The new cohesive gel implants are lighter than saline and they feel more natural. The implant location below the breast tissue or below the chest muscle (pectoralis) can also improve the look.

The shape of the breast can lose its natural fullness. If a patient wants to go from a larger implant to smaller one, or if excess breast tissue has developed, a mastopexy or breast lift may be necessary to reposition the breast. The exact type of breast lift needed is something I can discuss with you at your consultation.

At Persons Plastic Surgery, we follow a 10-step program to generate consistent results and high patient satisfaction. These steps include:

1. Pre-Consultation Information: The patient is given information about me, our process, surgical options, and a video.

2. Consultation Discussion: This type of procedure is about your goals and desires. We will have a frank and candid conversation, and I will spend most of this time listening. We talk about current size, and desired shape and size. We go over the patient’s medical history and perform an examination.

3. Examination: I evaluate the patients breasts, to go over her shape and how we may, or may not, be able to meet her goals.

4. Photos: We go over photos of my patients to assess what shape and size is right and how we can achieve this result.

5. Homework: The patient and her friend, husband, or partner have a few fun assignments to pick the right look and for the patient and I to agree about the desired result.

6. Scheduling Surgery: Our Patient Care Coordinator will schedule the procedure, go over any additional questions, discuss costs, and ensure the best possible experience.

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Stroke Support GroupThe Stroke Support Group Of Contra Costa County will hold its

monthly meeting on Monday, February 13th at 7pm in the Concord Room at John Muir Medical Center-Concord Campus located at 2540 East Av-enue in Concord. The speaker will be Anne Sigmon, a stroke survivor, and her topic will be “Travel (Even to the Wild) After Stroke.”

After the program, attendees will break up into three coping groups: stroke survivors without aphasia, stroke survivors with aphasia, and caregivers and families of stroke survivors, each group led by a trained professional.

For further information about the Stroke Support Group, contact Ann Dzuna at 925-376-6218. Meetings are free and open to the public.

[email protected] Alamo Today ~ February 2012 - Treatment could be used as a liquid face cleanser, or an acne soap with salicyclic acid would also help. Keep in mind that the treatment will control, but not cure, the condition. Prescription strength products will help if you aren’t improv-ing. Rosacea is best treated with prescription creams or oral medications. Avoiding known triggers helps too. If some of the redness seems permanent, a few treatments with an IPL- Intense Pulsed Light machine or a vascular laser can easily be done by your dermatologist.

Intermittent redness is caused by overuse of retinoids, winter dryness, and/or impetigo. Topical retinoids (Retin A, Refissa, Renova, and others) usually cause dryness, redness, and flaking when first applied. Over time most people’s skin adjusts and becomes less irritated. This is less likely when over the counter strength retinols are applied. Winter dryness due to forced air heat, colder weather, and wind can all dry our skin, particularly in sensitive areas such as around the nose.Impetigo is caused by a superficial skin infection in open, raw skin.

Retinoid overuse appears as redness, flaking, peeling, and sore, raw skin. Winter dryness looks much the same. Impetigo appears as red, raw, skin with dried on yellowish, honey-colored crusting.

The triggers and treatment of intermittent redness are several fold. For retinoid overuse, remind yourself that the full benefit of retinoids takes at least two months to appear, so start out slowly, using a lentil size amount of product on your entire face, and apply it only three nights weekly. After a month, you can apply it nightly, if tolerated. If your skin is still sensitive around your nose, avoid that area all to-gether. Avoid scrubbing your face, and avoid cleansers with microbeads, ground up apricot pits, etc. To protect your skin from winter dryness, use a moisturizer and sunscreen daily. And, follow the advice about avoiding microbead cleansers and overscrubbing your face. Impetigo is triggered by close contact with someone who is infected, usually a small child. Careful hand washing, using separate towels and washcloths, and appying mupirocin (Bactroban) easily clears up the infection.

To have your skin evaluated by a board certified dermatologist and have a treatment specifically designed for your skin, contact Dr. Kelly Hood, 970 Dew-ing, Suite 301, Lafayette, 925-283-5500, [email protected] or Dr. Shanny Baughman at Alamo Oaks Dermatology, 3189 Danville Blvd, suite 130, Alamo, 925-362-0992, [email protected] Advertorial

What Should I Do for Redness Around My Nose?By Dr. Shanny Baughman

Redness in the fold by your nose can be a bother, especially when you don’t know why it’s there. I will help you to try to figure out the cause of the redness, then I will direct you towards specific treatments. I like to divide causes of redness into two categories- chronic-ongoing, or intermittent- infrequent. If you just became aware of redness around your nose, think back to when

you first noticed it and how long it has been present. Chronic redness is caused by seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea. Seborrheic der-

matitis is also known as seborrhea, or sebderm. It occurs on areas of the skin rich on sebaceous glands (oil glands). The precise cause is unknown, but Malssezia furfur, a normally occurring yeast on our skin, helps contribute to the condition. Rosacea is an inflammatory condition of the skin that occurs in light skinned people of Northern European ancestry. Blushing and flushing is more frequent and lasts longer in people with rosacea, until their skin becomes permanently red.

Seborrheic dermatitis appears as redness, with flaky skin, greasy scales, and itching or burning. It is symmetrical, and it may also develop in your eyebrows, around your ears, and on the scalp and chin. In babies it is called cradle cap, but it can occur at any age. Rosacea appears as redness in the central face, with dilated blood vessels, and sometimes with red bumps and pimples. Rhinophyma, a lumpy, red, enlarged nose, may develop in advanced forms.

Triggers of seborrheic dermatitis include cold weather, seasonal change, dif-ferent water, and different soaps. Rosacea triggers include extreme heat or cold, eating spicy food, drinking hot caffeinated beverages, or drinking alcohol.

Treatment of seborrheic dermatitis responds best to a combination approach. I recommend over-the-counter products that are available at most drug stores or even grocery stores to begin with. Start with a mild topical steroid to control inflammation such as Aquanil HC lotion, an emmolient lotion with hydrocortiosone 1%, or 1% hydrocortisone ointment. I generally do not recommend 1% hydrocortisone cream because other added ingredients might increase, rather than decrease, inflammation. An antifungal shampoo such as Nizoral, Selsun Blue, or Head and Shoulders Intensive

Dr. Kelly Hood, LafayetteDr. Shanny Baughman, Alamo

Dear Friend,Dear Friend, “I know you.” That’s what people usually say when they meet me in town. Then they say, “You’re Dr. Jerry. I’ve seen

your ad with that picture of you and those cute kids.” Well, perhaps I should tell you a little more about that photo and why I use it in my ads. Let’s start with me, the guy on the left.

Twenty-three years ago something happened to me that changed my life forever. Let me tell you my story.Back when I was a young man, I was involved in a serious roll-over automobile accident where I injured my spine and nearly paralyzed

my arms. After several hours in the emergency room I was told that if I didn’t have surgery, I might never use my arms again. While talking to a nurse, I was told that I should see a chiropractor first. I was then transported to Dr. Wilbur, a chiropractor. The chiropractor

performed an exam and took some films, and then he “adjusted” my spine. The adjustment didn’t hurt, it actually felt good. I got relief, and I could use my arms and hands again. It worked so well for me, and I was so impressed with the other ‘miracles’ I had seen in his office, that I eventually went to chiropractic school myself.

Several times a day patients thank me for helping them, but I can’t really take the credit. My confession is that I’ve never healed anyone of anything. What I do is perform a specific spinal adjustment to remove nerve pressure, and the body responds by healing itself. We get tremendous results. It’s as simple as that!

I have a significantly lower fee plan so that more people are able to afford the care they need. A whole week of care in my office costs what you could pay for one visit elsewhere.

Amazing offer - When you mention this article you’ll receive our entire new patient exam with x-rays (if needed) for just $17. That’s it, no kidding.Great care at a great fee - Please, I hope that there’s no misunderstanding about quality of care just because I have that lower fee. You’ll get great care at a

great fee. My qualifications…I’m a graduate of Western States Chiropractic College who has been entrusted to take care of tiny babies to pro athletes that you may know, and I have even traveled to the set of “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” when those people needed care.

My assistant is Elisabeth, and she is a really great person. Our office is both friendly and warm, and we try our best to make you feel at home. We have a wonderful service, at an exceptional fee. Our office, Kenny Family Chiropractic, is located at 185 Front Street Suite 107 in downtown Danville (near the public library). Our phone number is 925-838-9355. Call Elisabeth or me today for an appointment. We can help you. Thank you. Dr. Jerry M. Kenny, D.C., Dr. Malia Kenny, D.C. and family, and Dr. Mahsa Khodabakhsh, D.C.

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Mended Hearts The John Muir Chapter of Mended Hearts will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, February 9th

at 7PM in the Hanson Room at John Muir Medical Center-Walnut Creek Campus located at 1601 Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek. The speaker will be John Hile, R.N. from Cardiac Conditioning at the John Muir Medical Center,Walnut Creek.

Mended Hearts is a national organization providing support for cardiac patients, their families, and caregivers. For further information about Mended Hearts, contact Nancy Mitchell at (925) 943-7549.

To place an ad, share a story, or for more information about our papers,

call us at 925.405.6397 or visit our website



Rehearsal for The Straw: Left to right, Eden Neuendorf as Eileen Carmody, Megan Miller as Miss Howard, Keith Jefferds as Bill Carmody, and Valerie Weak as Mrs. Brennan.

Tao House continued from page 14be available. Established as a National Historic Site in 1976, Tao House opened to the public in 1985.

Entertainment luminaries answered the call to save Tao House from de-molition. Former Board member Florence McCauley remembers that Jason Robards visiting the site for the first time “was transported.” Robards starred in benefit performances of Hughie to raise funds. Katherine Hepburn wrote the letter to Gump’s that finally got them to return Eugene’s bed, sold back to the store in 1944. Helen Hayes, at Tao House for the opening, is quoted in the New York Times on September 12, 1985: “We should treasure this man and particularly the plays he wrote at Tao House.”

Current President of the Board of the Eugene O’Neill Foundation Gary DeAtley comments on what he enjoys most about his role: “It’s a chance to rub shoulders with people who are true O’Neill and theatre scholars. It’s an education.” DeAtley also serves on the boards of the Museum of the San

Ramon Valley and Role Players Ensemble. “Being connected to three of the major art groups in the area allows me the opportunity to coordinate their efforts so that each can build on the strengths of the others.” The Museum provides a venue for staged readings as well as space to showcase exhibits on Carlotta and Eugene’s days in Danville. Role Players productions (most recently of Mourning Becomes Electra and The Straw) introduce local audi-ences to O’Neill’s enduring genius.

The Foundation’s collection of research materials, the largest on the West Coast, includes photographs, recordings, manuscripts, and first editions. Car-lotta’s diary, documenting every day at Tao House, is being transcribed.

The vitality of the Foundation is impressive. Dan Cawthon notes: “We are always on the lookout for new members to work alongside us, to catch the spirit of what the Foundation is trying to do, and suggest new, fresh ways of fulfilling our mission.”

Transportation and admission to Tao House is free. Access is available only by Park Service vehicles, which depart from the front of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley on Saturdays at 10am, Noon and 2pm. No reserva-tions are needed, and the tours are informal. Reservations are required on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays for guided tours departing at 10am and 2pm. Call 925-838-0249.

For more information on programs including the Student Days application and the Playwright’s Theatre performance schedule visit www.eugeneoneill.org.

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[email protected] Personal Nutritionist By Linda Michaelis, RD. MS.A Sneak Peak Into Two Case Studies

Here we are after the madness of the holidays, and I would like to share with you a couple of cases that I have seen in my office in the last month. I hope you can gain some insight for yourself and your family.David

David was referred to me by his physician for dia-betes. His blood sugars were in the 400 range, and now

when he thinks back, he ignored the symptoms of frequent thirst, urination, blurred vision, and dizziness. Please do not ever disregard these symptoms because if quickly taken care of, you can prevent diabetes. When I get a call from a frantic newly diagnosed diabetic like David, the first thing I always tell them is to stop drinking juices, sodas, and smoothies.

David is on the road as a salesman and says he felt that colas and juices kept his energy up. I explained to him that he has become addicted to the sugar in these drinks, and when his blood sugar drops every couple of hours, it spurs him to reach for another sugar laden beverage. David will now replace these beverages with sugar-free drinks such as Vitamin Zero.

In order to go to the next step, I reviewed David’s food diary and could see he was not consuming anywhere near enough protein and fiber in his meals which helped to explain why he succumbed to the bad habit of resorting to sugar. I concluded he needed to eat more frequent meals, every few hours, that would be balanced with protein and fiber. This would help prevent his cravings for sugar. We discussed his likes and dislikes and came up with an initial plan. For breakfast he agreed to substitute his typical two slices of wheat bread and butter with two slices of 100% whole wheat bread and peanut butter, a serving of Kashi Go Lean cereal, or two hard-boiled eggs with a toasted 100% whole wheat English muffin with butter. He agreed to take in his car a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack of beef or turkey jerky, cottage cheese, or even a serving of almonds with an apple which is a low sugar fruit. For dinner he will keep his servings of starches to a minimum. We focused on a one-cup serving of brown rice, whole wheat couscous, whole wheat

pasta, or legumes (like beans or lentils) which could be combined with two cups of tasty sautéed veggies with herbs and a serving of protein. I promised him that before long he would be able to have a couple of cookies and a glass of wine with dinner if he began a 30 minute morning and evening walking program. Walking burns excess sugar and always lowers your blood sugar.

I am communicating with David every other day through e-mail and via phone and guiding him to make the best food choices. I have had fabulous results in the past with such a program, and I am glad to tell you that after working with David for a month his blood sugars are in the low 200’s, and we will continue working together to get them in the normal range.Susan

As a parent of a college-aged student, I advise you to take a keen interest in your child’s nutrition which often falls short. Susan, who was referred to me for weight loss and low energy, has a diet typical of students newly liv-ing off campus - a constant dosage of frozen pizza, bagels, and Top Ramen along with too much coffee and sugar.

When I see this pattern unfold with my college students, one of the first things I do is educate them on how to read food labels for important facts such as protein, fiber, fat, and sugar content. After educating her, Susan and I went on a tour of Trader Joe’s and Safeway where I showed her some delicious, easy-to-prepare meal options that will provide the energy she needs to get through a demanding day. Based on Susan’s taste, we came up with several simple dishes she could prepare such as black beans with salsa, quinoa or whole wheat couscous with veggies and pot stickers, baked potatoes topped with broccoli and cheese or chili, scrambled eggs with veggies and whole wheat toast, oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins, and chicken Caesar salads. Susan is very inspired by our work together and is now e-mailing me her food diary. We have also set up a schedule to talk on the phone every few days.

I am glad to inform you that both of my clients were covered by health insurance.

Please feel free to call me at (925) 855-0150 or e-mail me at [email protected] and tell me about your nutritional concerns. Refer to my website www.lindaRD.com for past articles, recipes, and nutrition tips. Advertorial

Doctors Receive Patients’ Choice Award By Diablo Valley Oncology

The recognition of the Patients’ Choice Award reflects the dif-ference that a particu-lar physician has made in the lives of their patients. The honor is bestowed to physicians who have received near perfect scores as voted by their patients. Of the nation's 830,000 active physicians, only 5% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2011.

All seven physicians at Diablo Valley Oncology recently received this prestigious award. They are physicians Matthew Sirott, Robert Robles, Jewel Johl, Tiffany Svahn, Gigi Chen, Esther Catalya, and Sachin Ka-math. These medical oncologists, hematologists, and radiation oncologist were rated by their patients on various components of care such as ease of appointment, promptness, courteous staff, diagnosis accuracy, amount of time they spent with the patient, their bedside manner, and follow-up care. They received the highest scores, a perfect four star rating by their patients. In fact, the practice has more doctors recognized than any other oncology practice in the area.

Dr. Svahn, the group’s breast cancer specialist, has received the award four years in a row. One comment from a patient’s review states: “Dr. Svahn represents everything that is good about the medical profession. She is brilliant, very well trained, thorough in her exams and the questions she asks, but most important, she is a very caring human being. She made me feel as if we were partners in getting me well. I highly recommend her!”

Another patient wrote: “Dr. Catalya really listened to me - she created a plan to go after my cancer. I am now cancer free - one year later. I cannot thank her enough.”

To view the complete Patients’ Choice “MD report card” profile of each physician, go to www.patientschoice.org.

Diablo Valley Oncology is located at the California Cancer and Re-search Institute in Pleasant Hill. The cancer center is the largest free-standing, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, and supportive care services – all in one convenient location. Satellite offices in Rossmoor, San Ramon, and Brentwood. For more information visit www.diablovalleyoncology.md or call 925-705-4493. Advertorial

Humor, Heart, and Hope: Laughter Through the Cancer Journey

Join the Cancer Support Community for an uplifting symposium designed to bring the joy of laughter to those living with cancer and their family and friends. The program will provide a laughter-fueled, learning-filled look at how humor can enrich life. The program will also cover how to tap the positive power of humor in inviting more humor and happiness in life while living with cancer.

The symposium is presented by the Cancer Support Community San Fran-cisco Bay Area and John Muir Health. It will be held Saturday, March 3rd from 9am – Noon at the Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. The event is free, but reservations are required. Please call (925) 933-0107 no later than March 1st to reserve a space.Is Food a Problem for You?

Overeaters Anonymous offers a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This is a 12-step program. The free meetings are for anyone suffering from a food addiction including overeating, under-eating, and bulimia. The group meets Wednesdays at 6PM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Visit www.how-oa.org for more information.


WALNUT CREEKSAN RAMONCONCORDROSSMOOR DANVILLE

contracostaoncology.com 925.939.9610

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New Year’s Resolutions - Did You Make One Yet?By Michael Nelson, M.D.

Everyone loves New Year’s resolutions. Apparently, it is also big business because at the beginning of each year every other commercial is for a diet pill, gym membership, or some ridiculous home exercise appliance (remember the Thigh Master?). If you are still looking for a

resolution for 2012 I will offer four easy suggestions that will keep your brain happy this year.

Wear a helmet. It’s an easy thing to do. Having young children myself, I make sure that they wear appropriate helmets for their activities. I have seen lots of other parents do this also, but they forget to put helmets on their OWN heads. This is particularly true on a bicycle. You don’t need to be going fast to hurt your head; if you don’t believe me just drop a watermelon from the height of your head onto concrete and see what happens. I would also like to remind parents that bicycles are vehicles on the road and need to follow the same rules as a car. It’s very dangerous to be weaving in and out of parked cars on the wrong side of the road like an Englishman leaving their local pub.

Don’t drink too much. I’m sure there were plenty of people who woke up on New Year’s Day saying they will never drink that much again. A moderate amount of alcohol does reduce the chance of getting many neurological diseases, but too much will cause damage to both your brain and the rest of your nervous system. There is a direct toxic effect and also a depletion of essential vitamins that occurs following drinking alcohol. Too much is more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. A drink is 12 oz of beer, 4 oz of wine, or 1 ½ oz of hard alcohol.

Increase both physical and mental activities. Your risk of Alzheimer’s disease is lower with regular cardiovascular exercise, such as walking for 20 minutes three times a week. You may wonder what is mental exercise? It involves challenging your mind. This can include playing bridge again or completing your 1000th crossword puzzle, but the best mental exercise is to learn a completely new topic. This may be the year to learn Spanish or Chinese. New technology can be challenging also; just ask anyone who tried to teach their grandparent how to get voicemail off their cellphone.

Reduce your cardiovascular risk factors.

These are the things that cause heart attacks, stroke, and other nasty conditions. I often get asked what I think the chance of a family member getting Alzheimer’s disease is if their parent has it. Because not all memory loss is Alzheimer’s, I frequently empower the family by informing them that a lot of memory trouble has to do with poorly controlled hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, and diabetes. Weight loss and exercise, both very popular resolutions, will reduce those cardiovascular risk factors. And who doesn’t love to tell someone to quit smoking. Too bad it’s rarely effective.

If you follow these four easy suggestions, your brain will thank you, and that is a great goal for 2012.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not replace proper medical care.

Michael Nelson, M.D. is a board certified adult neurologist who has been serving general neurology patients in the East Bay for the past nine years. His office is located at 970 Dewing Ave, Suite #300 in Lafayette. He can be reached at (925) 299-9022 to schedule and appointment and can also be found on the web at www.michaelnelsonmd.com. Advertorial

Hearing Loss Association Come to meetings of the Diablo Valley

Chapter of Hearing Loss Association of America at 7pm on the 1st Wednesday of the month at the Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 1543 Sunnyvale Ave., Walnut Creek Education Bldg., Wesley Room. Meeting room and parking are at back of church. All are welcome. Donations accepted. Assistive listening system is available for T-coils, and most meetings are captioned. Contact: [email protected] or 925.264.1199 or www.hearinglossdv.org.


Alamo Today ClassifiedsReach over 6,300 homes and businesses in Alamo - Help Wanted, For Sale, Services, Lessons, Pets, Rent-

als, Wanted, Freebies... $35 for up to 45 words. $5 for each additional 15 words. Run the same classified ad in our sister papers “Lafayette Today” or “Danville Today News” at half off!Send or email submissions to: 3000F Danville Blvd #117, Alamo 94507 or editor@yourmonthly-

paper.com. Payment by check made out to “The Editors” must be received before ad will print. Your cancelled check is your receipt. We reserve the right to reject any ad.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Name_________________________________________ Address__________________________________________ # of Words_______________

Phone________________________________________ Email ____________________________________________________________________

C L A S S I F I E DCONDO VACATION RENTAL Mauna Lani Resort, Big Island. New luxury 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath condo on 4th fairway. Minimum 3 night stay. Contact Alamo owners for discounted rate. 925.381.7042 [email protected]

FOR RENT

An American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry survey reveals that 92% of adult respondents say an attractive

smile is an important social asset.

74% believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for a successful career.

More than any other facial feature, a smile can reflect trust, comfort, confidence and the shortest path to

reflecting your personality.

Dr Rader is a graduate of the prestigious Las Vegas Institute (LVI), a renowned center for cosmetic,TMJ, and Neuromuscular

dentistry. He is one of a few dentists nationwide to complete Full Mouth Reconstruction curriculum at LVI.

Actual patient, smile design by Alex Rader, DDS

925.932.1855Alex Rader DDS General, Cosmetic, and Neuromuscular Dentistry 1855 San Miguel Dr, Suite 12 • Walnut Creek, CAwww.alexraderdds.com

P L A C E Y O U R C L A S S I F I E D H E R E !

The Best is Yet to Be ForumThe Best is Yet to Be forum features speakers on positive aging. Topics include

progress on Alzheimer’s, planning tips for old age, achieving dreams, and Veteran’s benefits. In addition, a free senior information fair will be held.

The fourth annual event is set for 8:45am to 1pm, Friday, February 17th, in Walnut Creek. Four speakers will describe elements of successful, positive aging. An entertainment bonus will be provided by Lucille Ball, as portrayed by Sheilah Morrison, a talented community theater performer.

A free senior information fair will be held throughout the morning next door to the forum. Sixteen exhibitors will describe their varied services, and they will furnish prizes, pamphlets, and gifts.

The events will be held at Heather Farm Community Center located at 301 N. San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek. The nonprofit Diablo Valley Foundation for the Aging is

sponsoring the event, and it will donate proceeds to the Walnut Creek Seniors Club.“Our goal is to give seniors and their families information as well as some

entertainment that will enrich their lives,” said Robert Kain, the foundation’s executive director.

The speakers include Kiki Douveas who will describe how older adults can achieve their dreams, based on her return to college after 37 years in the restau-rant business. Richard Hemingway’s topic is “Strategic Planning for Successful Aging.” Men who served in the military, their spouses, and relatives will learn what veteran benefits may be available in attorney Michael Young’s talk, entitled “What Happens If You Don’t Die.” Dr. Adam Rochmes will describe progress in Alzheimer’s research and treatment.

Lunch is included in the $20 admission. For tickets at the door, the admission is $25. To register, visit www.dv-fa.org or call (925) 945-8040.


Luxury Home Market Hits Bottom, Turns UpIt is with great pleasure that I write the upbeat lead for this month’s article. A year ago I

reported that things were going badly for high-end homes, and they were. No one could be more thrilled than I am that the market for luxury homes has finally turned around. For the purpose of this review, as with my last, I have defined a luxury home to include homes that are 5,000 square feet and larger, are sitting on a premium lot that is between ½ and one full acre, and are equipped with a pool. This definition has been overlain on the geographies that include Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, and Diablo - basically what in my personal view comprises the Danville Area.

I have included a chart and a graph with this review that display the sales history for this slice of the market dating back to 1997. Look at the last bar on the bar chart and you will see that sales prices for luxury homes have indeed risen in 2011. Not by a little, but by a lot. This is truly exciting. Average sales price in 2010 was $1,908,000. In 2011 the number has climbed to $2,163,102. That’s a whopping increase of 13% or a $255,000 price jump. If you have been waiting for the absolute bottom to snag a “big one,” you may very likely have missed the chance. But, the prices are still 26% below the 2007 peak, so it’s not too late to get a great buy on a great home.

Equally important and confirming the luxury market turnaround is the dollars paid per square foot. In 2010 it stood at $327 and has increased throughout 2011 to $367 for a 12% increase. Both measures show strong positive dollar increases supporting the view that this is not a statistical anomaly but the “real deal,” which is even more exciting. I want to add that there is no such thing as an average home. The lowest price paid for one of these homes was $1,130,000, and the highest was $3,580,000. The median price was almost a match of the average price and stands at $2,150,000.

Interesting is that the sales history on number of units sold in the Danville Area is fairly consistent year-on-year with the exception of 1998 and 2008,

the former reaching historical highs and the latter dropping to historical lows. Look closely at the data chart, and you will see that 21 units sold in 2011, nearly matching the 1998 peak and signifi-cantly eclipsing 14 of the 15 years reported. Unit sales are up a full 50% over 2010.

Each of the three measures, Sales Price, Dol-lars Paid per Square Foot, and Unit Sales, are confirming that high-end buyer confidence has risen, at least in our neck of the woods, since 21 of the 25 Contra Costa County luxury home sales or 84% were in the Danville Area. This explosive jump in sales is likely due to the growing availability of Super Jumbo loans at historically low interest rates. If you are looking to acquire a luxury home during the next year, you might want to contact your lender who can bring you up to speed on the great loan products out there. If you don’t have a lender, please give Nancy or me a call, and we will point you in the right direction. At this moment Nancy and I are working with a couple of serious buyers who have not yet found the perfect luxury home among those available in inventory. If you are looking to sell a luxury home, and you want your transaction handled discretely, we can help you with that as well.

Conventional thinking says that market improvement occurs from the bottom up and increasing demand at the lower end pushes demand for the upper end. This doesn’t seem to be the case right now. We have been surprised by the number of people looking for the ideal home at various price ranges who have no home to sell, having disposed of their last home sometime earlier. They are sitting on cash, renting and waiting for the right opportunity. Last year we noted a number of data points suggesting that the mid-market in the Danville Area may be forming a bottom as well. Will the entire market turn up in 2012? Only time will tell.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in 2012 and you would like to talk it over, please give us a call at 925-989-6086 or send me an email [email protected]. We would love to help.


Data presented in this column is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Contra Costa and Alameda MLS service and other quoted sources. Joe and Nancy Combs, J. Rockcliff and the MLS service do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. DRE #0144125.

Lovely 4 bed, 2 bath, single level home with pool. Soaring ceilings, great flow, walk-in master closet. 3 car garage with RV parking $749,000.

Nancy and I represented the buyer and the seller. Pending in 3 days. $1,075,000.

We have other buyers.

Perfect “10” 5 beds, office, huge bonus room, kitchen family room flow,

exquisite mill work, views $2,095,000

Nancy and I represented the buyer on this lovely remodel of 2928 sq. ft.

We have more buyers. $968,000

Exquisite 5 bedroom 4.5 bath custom luxury home on level .5 acre lot. Custom pool and spa! Eye pop-ping, mouth dropping, Wow! Appeal. $2,285,000.

Stonegate Single StoryThe Perfect Downsizer

Two Large Lots for Sale

SOLD

J. Rockcliff Realtors 15 Railroad Ave., Danville CA. 94526

Downsize to a Single Level Alamo Custom Luxury Home

Alamo Westside Mediterranean

Page 32 - February 201 onthlypypypapapperer.c.comom

Professionals YouCan Count On

The Combs Team

Nancy Joe

www.TheCombsTeam.com

®Call the Combs Team

925-989-6086

SOLD

Beautiful wooded setting. Lot B is 7.93 Acres Lot C is 12.87 Acres. Call for details.

SOLD

Luxury Home Mkt. Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, DiabloUnits Sold DOM Sold Price $/Sq. Foot Avg Size

97 11 94 1,452,481$ 215$ 675598 22 60 1,505,111$ 239$ 629799 18 72 1,674,375$ 289$ 579300 14 64 2,119,346$ 362$ 585401 15 31 2,065,833$ 354$ 583502 17 47 1,847,000$ 334$ 552903 16 51 2,404,718$ 368$ 653404 17 37 2,606,029$ 433$ 608505 16 17 2,760,392$ 489$ 564406 12 41 2,707,125$ 451$ 600207 14 41 2,920,833$ 506$ 577208 8 82 2,859,375$ 510$ 560609 11 175 2,551,388$ 431$ 591910 14 91 1,908,000$ 327$ 583411 21 98 2,163,102$ 367$ 5894Note: 5000 + Sq Ft. Home on .5 1.0 acre and Pool

$-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

Luxury Home MarketSales Price

alamo today, february 2012

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